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As many as 18 people have been killed in the stampede that took place at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night.
- Authorities call it a ‘rumour’ initially, change minds later
The authorities called the incident a rumour as soon as the news started spreading. “There is no stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. It is only a rumour. Northern Railways was running two planned special trains for Prayagraj,” the CPRO of the Northern Railways said. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena mourned loss of lives in his initial tweet, however, he edited his tweet to cut out the condolence part. Later, videos from the site confirmed the stampede. The LNJP Hospital also confirmed the death toll after which PM Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other ministers started sending out their condolence messages. - 18 lives lost so far
On Saturday night, the authorities confirmed that 15 people lost their lives, including three children. On Sunday morning, the death toll has risen to 18, including 14 women. Several people have also been injured in the incident and have been admitted to the LNJP Hospital. - What led to the stampede?
– Overcrowding Due to Maha Kumbh Mela: The station experienced an unprecedented influx of passengers heading to the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj. This surge was intensified by the cancellation of two trains bound for Prayagraj, leading to confusion and frustration among travelers.
– Platform Congestion: The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on platforms 14 and 15. Eyewitnesses reported that a sudden announcement changing the departure platform of the Prayagraj Special train from platform 12 to platform 16 caused passengers to rush, leading to overcrowding on foot overbridges and staircases. This rapid movement resulted in people colliding and falling, especially on escalators and stairs.
– Insufficient Crowd Management: Witnesses noted a lack of adequate crowd control measures. One porter, with decades of experience at the station, remarked that he had “never seen such a massive crowd” and that the situation became uncontrollable despite the presence of administrative and security personnel. - High-level inquiry ordered
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has initiated a high-level inquiry following a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, which claimed at least 18 lives. To control the rush at the station, he also announced four special trains. He also assured strict measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. - ₹10 lakh ex-gratia announced
Indian Railways has announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased. Compensation of ₹2.5 lakh has been allocated for those who sustained serious injuries, while individuals with minor injuries will receive ₹1 lakh. - What did PM Narendra Modi say?
Reacting to the incident, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “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.” - What did Delhi’s caretaker CM Atishi said?
Delhi’s caretaker Chief Minister, Atishi, conveyed her condolences to the families of the victims, acknowledging the tragic incident. She visited LNJP Hospital to extend support to those affected by the devastating stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. In a post on X, Atishi stated, “The heartbreaking loss of devotees heading to Maha Kumbh in the accident at New Delhi Railway Station is deeply saddening. I met the victims’ families at LNJP Hospital. Several individuals are injured and receiving treatment. Two of our MLAs are present at the hospital to assist the affected families…” - Eyewitness account
Loss of a Loved One: A man named Pappu from Patna shared, “My mother died in the stampede. We were going to our home…”
Overwhelming Crowd: Dharmendra Singh, a passenger, observed, “The station was overcrowded. There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station.”
Lack of Crowd Control: Another eyewitness noted, “There was no one to control the crowd… It was announced that the train coming on platform number 12 will come on platform number 16. So the crowd came from both sides and a stampede occurred…” - Congress condemns Centre
On Sunday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized the Centre over the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. He urged the government to immediately reveal the precise number of casualties and injuries while also providing details about any missing individuals. - Delhi Police release names of 18 deceased
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