At least 18 individuals lost their lives, and 15 others were injured in a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night. The event occurred as a large number of devotees congregated to board trains for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, one of the largest religious gatherings globally. The chaos erupted on platforms 14 and 15 as passengers hurried to confirm their travel plans.
Key Developments in the New Delhi Railway Station Stampede:
1. The stampede happened when thousands of travelers converged on the station, eager to board trains heading towards Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh festival.
2. Officials verified that at least 18 individuals, including three children, perished in the unfortunate event.
3. Delhi’s acting Chief Minister Atishi voiced profound sorrow regarding the loss of life and sent condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
4. The incident occurred around 9:55 PM when the station became overwhelmingly crowded due to delays and cancellations of trains, worsening the situation.
5. Railway officials indicated that a significant number of passengers had assembled at platform 14 for the departure of the Prayagraj Express. Concurrently, two other trains destined for Prayagraj—the Swatantrata Senani Express and the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani—faced delays, which further heightened congestion.
6. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) mentioned, “As per CMI, every hour 1,500 general tickets were sold by railways due to which the station got overcrowded and became uncontrollable. There was a stampede at platform no. 14 and near the escalator close to platform no. 16. ”
7. Eyewitnesses described scenes of intense pushing and suffocation as the crowding made it hard for individuals to move or breathe.
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those affected and shared his sorrow regarding the tragic occurrence.
9. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede. ”
10. In reaction to the catastrophe, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched an investigation and arranged for four additional special trains to help alleviate the rush at the station.
