New Delhi Railway Station stampede claimed at least 15 lives late Saturday night, leaving more than a dozen others injured, officials reported.
The chaos erupted as a surge of passengers gathered on platforms 14 and 15, attempting to board trains bound for Prayagraj, where the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival has drawn large crowds.
Acting Chief Minister Atishi confirmed that 15 casualties were brought to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, with three of the victims being children. Among the deceased, only two remain unidentified. Additionally, nearly 15 people sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment, she stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are providing necessary assistance to those affected.”
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede: Overcrowding Leads to Chaos
Eyewitnesses recounted that excessive crowding led to the tragedy, with several passengers collapsing due to suffocation. The deputy commissioner of police (railway) reported that platform 14 was already heavily packed when the Prayagraj Express was stationed for departure.
Delays in the Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express led to further congestion on platforms 12, 13, and 14. The situation worsened as an estimated 1,500 general tickets were being sold every hour, contributing to an uncontrollable crowd, according to railway sources.
The New Delhi Railway Station stampede occurred around 9:55 PM, prompting an immediate emergency response from authorities. Rescue teams, along with four fire tenders, were dispatched to manage the crisis, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg confirmed.
Survivors Share Heartbreaking Testimonies
One of the victims’ family members recounted the painful loss of his mother in the incident. “We were traveling home to Chhapra, Bihar, when chaos erupted. My mother got caught in the stampede and lost her life. The doctor confirmed her passing,” he lamented. Another grieving relative collapsed upon hearing the news.
Passengers described a scene of extreme distress. Dharmendra Singh, a traveler, stated, “I was heading to Prayagraj, but with multiple train delays and cancellations, the station became overcrowded. I have never seen such a rush before. I saw several women being carried away on stretchers.”
Pramod Chaurasia, another passenger, added, “I had a confirmed sleeper-class ticket for the Purushottam Express, but even ticketed passengers couldn’t board. The pushing and shoving were intense. My friend and a female passenger got trapped in the crowd. To avoid the crush, I waited outside with my children.”
Government Authorities Respond to the New Delhi Railway Station Stampede
Dilip Kumar, Executive of Railway Board’s Information and Publicity, initially described the situation as a “stampede-like” event caused by overwhelming footfall.
Authorities later confirmed that four special trains had been arranged to ease passenger congestion, with plans to introduce more as needed.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “Devastating news from New Delhi Railway Station. I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, and I pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena initially referred to the incident as “tragic” in an X post, mentioning “loss of lives and injuries due to disorder and stampede.” However, minutes later, he edited his post to remove any reference to fatalities, offering no explanation for the revision.
The authorities continue to investigate the New Delhi Railway Station stampede, while survivors and families mourn their devastating losses.