A tragic incident unfolded at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals and injuries to at least 10 others. The crowd crush occurred as thousands of passengers swarmed the station, desperate to board delayed trains.
Among the deceased were four children and 10 women, as confirmed by official reports. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences via a post on X, extending his thoughts to the grieving families.
Crowd-related tragedies are not uncommon in India, where high population density often leads to overcrowding in public spaces, religious gatherings, and festivals. This incident follows closely on the heels of another devastating crush at the Kumbh Mela in northern India, where 30 people lost their lives just weeks ago. The Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, attracts millions of Hindu devotees seeking to bathe in the sacred river waters.
18 killed in stampede at New Delhi Railway Station amid Maha Kumbh rush https://t.co/dd89p1FAaf
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Eyewitness accounts described the scene at New Delhi Railway Station as chaotic and overwhelming. Many passengers were traveling to and from the Kumbh Mela, contributing to the congestion. Reports indicate that two trains were delayed, and a third train bound for Prayagraj was awaiting departure.
Passengers recounted harrowing experiences. Ruby Devi mentioned being unable to even enter the station due to the sheer volume of people. Umesh Giri, who lost his wife Shilam Devi in the crush, described the crowd as uncontrollable. Dharmendra Singh, another traveler to Prayagraj, stated that he had never witnessed such a large crowd at the station, recalling the sight of six or seven women being carried away on stretchers.
KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), announced an investigation into the incident, attributing the crush to delayed train arrivals and the resultant accumulation of passengers.
The tragedy has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who have accused the government of administrative negligence. Rahul Gandhi, a prominent opposition figure, emphasized the need for better crowd management, particularly given the expected influx of devotees heading to Prayagraj.
This heart-wrenching incident underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and crowd control measures at India’s major transit hubs to prevent such disasters in the future.
