A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station during the Mahakumbh rush claimed 18 lives and injured around 30. Eyewitnesses blamed the chaos on a train arrival announcement and lack of crowd control.
At least 18 people, including 11 women and four children, died after a huge rush of passengers caused by two delayed trains and a special Express train to Maha Kumbh led to a stampede at the New Delhi Railway station on Saturday night. Over a dozen people have also been injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.
The incident took place around 9.55 pm, prompting an emergency response from authorities.
The Ministry of Railways has ordered an inquiry into the “unfortunate” incident and formed a two-member high-level committee to investigate the matter.
Delays in train departures and the sale of around 1,500 general tickets exacerbated the situation and contributed to the overwhelming crowd, officials said.
According to the police, platforms number 13 and 14 at the New Delhi Railway station were already crowded as many people were waiting to board two trains – Swatantrata Senani and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani – which were delayed. Amid this, a special train for Maha Kumbh, the Prayagraj Express, was to leave at 10:10 pm from platform number 14.
As the time for the train to Prayagraj neared, more and more people started gathering on the platform, adding to the existing rush. During this time, more than a thousand general tickets were bought by passengers to go to Maha Kumbh, officials said.
Additionally, a rumour also spread among people that the Prayagraj Express was going to arrive on a different platform.
This led to the passengers pushing each other and rushing towards the stairs, causing a stampede.
A wave of similar incidents has been taking place recently as special trains are arranged for the Maha Kumbh – a grand festival held only once every 12 years. Earlier this week, some passengers at Bihar’s Madhubani railway station broke the glass windows of the Swatantrata Senani Express – which goes to Delhi via Prayagraj – after they were unable to board the train.
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President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured,” she said.
Condoling the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, “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.”
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena called the incident “unfortunate” and “tragic” and expressed grief over the loss of lives. “My deepest condolences to the families of victims of this tragedy. Have spoken to Chief Secretary & Police Commissioner and asked them to address and redress the situation,” he said.
Multiple videos have emerged showing crowds pouring over each other at the New Delhi Railway Station before a stampede killed at least 18 people and injured dozens on Saturday night. The rush at the station broke out as crowds struggled to board trains for Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh, which has so far attracted more than 50 crore devotees.
The videos show passengers pushing each other on the platforms to board the trains. Some men were also seen entering the trains through windows.
The stampede at the NDLS, which broke out around 10 pm, was preceded by a swell in the crowd of passengers waiting to board trains for Prayagraj on platform numbers 14 and 15.
“People were pushing each other,” a man whose mother died in the stampede told reporters.
Another passenger said the station was “overcrowded”.
“I was going to Prayagraj but many trains were running late or were cancelled. The station was overcrowded. There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station,” he said.
An official said platform number 14 was very crowded when the Prayagraj Express train was waiting there for its departure. He said two other trains – Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express – were delayed and the passengers of these trains were also present on platform numbers 12, 13 and 14.
“As per CMI (Commercial-cum-Ticket Inspector), 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 escalator near platform no 16,” he said.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have grieved the deaths.
“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for a speedy recovery of those injured,” President Murmu said in a post on X.
PM Modi said he was “distressed” by the stampede at the 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,” he said.