New Delhi Station Stampede: Delays in trains and increasing crowd at New Delhi Station led to a stampede, resulting in 18 deaths. According to officials, the delay in the departure of two special trains heading to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh increased the crowd. Witnesses at the scene stated that the situation suddenly spiraled out of control.
On Saturday night, a stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station on platforms 13 and 14 due to heavy crowding and chaos. At least 18 people lost their lives in the incident, including 9 women, 5 children, and 4 men. Many others were injured, and they are being treated at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital. There are concerns that the death toll could rise further.
The incident occurred around 9 PM when thousands of devotees for the Mahakumbh gathered at the station for their journey. Following this, panic spread among the passengers. According to sources, the sudden chaos caused some women to faint, with four of them reported in critical condition and immediately sent to LNJP Hospital. After the incident, several videos surfaced showing a large crowd running through the station. Some children were seen being carried on shoulders, while others struggled with their belongings.
Initial reports suggest that the overcrowding led to suffocation, causing four female passengers to faint. Emergency calls were made to Delhi Fire Services, which then sent four fire tenders and ambulances to the site. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team also arrived for rescue operations.
Railway officials stated that the stampede occurred due to the increasing crowd on the platforms. DCP Railway KPS Malhotra explained, “The Prayagraj Express was stationed on platform 14, where there were already a large number of people. The Swaraj Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani trains also arrived late, with passengers occupying platforms 12, 13, and 14. As per initial information, around 1500 general tickets were sold yesterday, which caused the crowd to become uncontrollable.”
According to officials, the delay of the two special trains for Prayagraj Mahakumbh contributed to the overcrowding. People present at the scene mentioned that the situation suddenly became unmanageable. Authorities are investigating the matter, and the process of taking strict action against those responsible has begun.
