A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station has left at least 18 people dead and 10 others injured as thousands of passengers attempted to board delayed trains on Saturday night.
Among the victims, four were children and 10 were women, according to a list released by authorities. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating that his thoughts were with those who had lost their loved ones.
Overcrowding and Panic at the Station
The crush occurred as large crowds gathered at the station, with many people traveling to and from the Kumbh Mela, a massive religious festival currently taking place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The event, which draws millions of Hindu pilgrims, has already seen another tragedy in northern India, where 30 people were killed in a separate stampede just weeks ago.
According to officials, two trains were delayed, and a third train bound for Prayagraj was waiting to depart, further adding to the congestion.
Eyewitnesses described the chaos at the station. Ruby Devi, a traveler, said the crowd was so large that she could not even enter the station. Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi was among the victims, described the crowd as “uncontrollable” as he tried to board the Prayagraj Express.
Another witness, Dharmendra Singh, who was also heading to Prayagraj, told India’s PTI news agency that the number of people at the station was far greater than he had ever seen.
“In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers,” he said.
Authorities Investigate the Cause
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the stampede. KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), stated that the delay of two trains and the mass gathering of passengers were key factors that led to the incident.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have criticized the government, blaming the tragedy on poor planning and mismanagement.
“Considering the large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station,” said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India’s Parliament.
The incident highlights Indiaa’s recurring issue with crowd safety, as stampedes and crushes frequently occur at religious festivals, railway stations, and other overcrowded public spaces.
