Eighteen Dead in Stampede at New Delhi Station

 

Massive Crowds Trigger Deadly Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station

Deadly Crowd Crush at New Delhi Railway Station Kills 18

At least 18 people have died and 10 others were injured in a crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night.

Thousands of passengers flooded the station as they attempted to board delayed trains, leading to the deadly incident. According to officials, four of the victims were children, while 10 were women.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying his thoughts were "with all those who have lost their loved ones" in a post on X.

Overcrowding and Delayed Trains Contribute to Tragedy

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as massive crowds gathered, with many travelers heading to and from the Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The station was overwhelmed as people waited for delayed trains, including one bound for Prayagraj.

Ruby Devi, a traveler, said the station was so packed she couldn’t even enter. Umesh Giri, who lost his wife in the crush, recalled how the crowd became "uncontrollable" as he tried to board the Prayagraj Express.

"There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station," said Dharmendra Singh, another passenger. "In front of me, six or seven women were carried away on stretchers."

KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), said authorities were investigating the incident. "This happened due to a delay in two trains arriving and more people gathering at the station," he explained.

Recurring Crowd Disasters in India

Mass crowd incidents are common in India, especially at religious gatherings and public spaces. Just weeks earlier, 30 people were killed in a pre-dawn crush at the Kumbh Mela, where millions of Hindu devotees had gathered to bathe in sacred waters.

Opposition leaders have criticized the government over the tragedy. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in parliament, accused officials of failing to manage the surge in travelers. "Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station," he posted on X.

Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the crush as families mourn their loved ones.