At least 15 people lost their lives, and more than a dozen sustained injuries in a tragic stampede that broke out late Saturday night at the New Delhi Railway Station. The stampede occurred amid an overwhelming rush of passengers, primarily those traveling to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival.
Overcrowding Triggers Chaos
The situation escalated when platform number 14 became excessively crowded due to the presence of passengers waiting for the departure of the&nbsp;Prayagraj Express. In an official statement, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railway) revealed that two other trains&mdash;Swatantra Senani Express&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express&mdash;were delayed, further adding to the congestion on platforms 12, 13, and 14.
"As per CMI (Chief Movement Inspector), every hour, around&nbsp;1,500 general tickets&nbsp;were being sold by the railways, leading to uncontrollable overcrowding. The situation worsened, resulting in a stampede at platform number 14 and near the escalator at platform number 16," the DCP stated.
Eyewitness Accounts of Horror
The stampede reportedly began at&nbsp;9:55 PM, sparking an immediate emergency response. Several passengers described the horrifying moment when the crowd turned uncontrollable, leading to panic and chaos.
One of the victims, mourning the loss of his mother, told reporters, "We were traveling to our home in Chhapra, Bihar, in a group. But in the chaos, my mother lost her life. People were pushing each other frantically. The doctor has confirmed to us that she has passed away."
Another family member, a woman, collapsed in grief upon receiving the devastating news.
Rescue Efforts and Official Response
Authorities swiftly responded to the crisis. The&nbsp;Delhi Fire Services (DFS)&nbsp;chief,&nbsp;Atul Garg, confirmed that&nbsp;four fire tenders&nbsp;were rushed to the site to assist in rescue efforts.&nbsp;Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay&nbsp;stated that passengers pushing each other caused injuries, and those affected were immediately taken to hospitals for medical aid.
A passenger named&nbsp;Dharmendra Singh, who was traveling to Prayagraj, shared his experience: "Many trains were either delayed or canceled. The station was overcrowded like never before. I saw at least&nbsp;six or seven women being carried away on stretchers."
Official Statements and Condolences
Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi&nbsp;expressed his grief over the incident in a post 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 recover soon. The authorities are assisting those affected by this unfortunate incident."
Acting Chief Minister&nbsp;Atishi&nbsp;addressed the media, confirming that&nbsp;15 bodies&nbsp;had been brought to&nbsp;Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital&nbsp;in central Delhi. She added that&nbsp;all but two of the victims had been identified, with&nbsp;three of them being children. Nearly&nbsp;15 injured passengers&nbsp;are currently undergoing treatment.
Cause of the Stampede and Passenger Reactions
According to eyewitnesses, an overwhelming rush of passengers led to the disaster. Many people&nbsp;fainted due to suffocation&nbsp;as the crowd became unmanageable. The railway station, already one of the busiest in the country, struggled to handle the unexpected surge in passengers heading to the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage.
Investigation and Next Steps
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine if lapses in crowd control contributed to the tragedy. Officials are also reviewing whether additional measures, such as restricting ticket sales and enhancing security personnel deployment, could have prevented the disaster.
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The account of the stampede at the Delhi railway station is told through the clothes and shoes that were left behind

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February 16, 2025 | 07:28 IST