Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Kills 18 Amid Maha Kumbh Rush
Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Kills 18 Amid Maha Kumbh Rush
Overcrowding and Platform Change Announcement Led to Tragic Incident
New Delhi, February 16: A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night claimed the lives of 18 people and left many others injured, as thousands of devotees gathered to board trains for Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.
The tragedy occurred around 10 PM, with overcrowding and confusion over platform changes cited as key factors in the deadly incident.
🔹 Victims Identified
The deceased include men, women, and children, highlighting the chaotic and tragic nature of the stampede. Authorities have confirmed the identities of the 18 victims, including:
Several others remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
🔹 Eyewitness Accounts: Chaos and Panic
An Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant, Ajit, who was present at the scene, recalled that despite repeated announcements and warnings to control the crowd, people ignored safety instructions, leading to the disaster.
“We have a tri-service office at the railway station. When I was returning after my duty, I couldn’t move due to the massive crowd. I tried to convince people to avoid gathering in large numbers, but they didn’t listen. The administration was working hard to prevent any mishap, but the situation got out of control,” he told.
Another eyewitness described the unmanageable crowd and the failure to control the situation, despite the presence of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and railway officials.
“The crowd was beyond control. Even the administration and NDRF personnel couldn’t handle it once the platform got overcrowded. I have never seen such a massive crowd at the railway station, even during major festivals,” said a commuter.
🔹 How the Stampede Happened?
⚠️ Delayed train departures and the sale of 1,500 general tickets for the Prayagraj-bound trains worsened the situation. ⚠️ A last-minute platform change announcement triggered panic, forcing passengers to rush towards a new platform, leading to the stampede. ⚠️ With thousands of devotees already gathered, the foot over bridge and platform area became dangerously congested.
One of the victims’ relatives, Sanjay, lost his sister in the chaos.
“We were 12 people traveling to Maha Kumbh. We hadn’t even reached the platform yet. My family got stuck in the crowd, and I lost my sister. We found her after half an hour, but she was already dead,” he said.
Another eyewitness recounted how the platform change announcement created confusion.
“It was announced that the train arriving at platform 12 would now arrive at platform 16. People started rushing from both sides, and suddenly, the stampede happened. There was no one to control the crowd,” he added.
🔹 Official Response & Investigation Underway
🚨 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, confirmed that the congestion occurred at platforms 12, 13, and 14, where the Prayagraj Express, Swatantrata Senani Express, and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani were stationed.
🚨 The Railway Ministry and Delhi Police have launched an investigation into the safety lapses and mismanagement that led to the stampede.
🚨 The Indian Railways is reviewing passenger management measures, including better crowd control mechanisms at major stations during festival seasons.
As families mourn their loved ones, authorities have assured that they are working to prevent such tragedies in the future.
📍 Tags:
New Delhi Railway Station, Delhi Stampede, Maha Kumbh 2025, Prayagraj Express, Train Delay Tragedy, Foot Over Bridge Stampede, NDRF Rescue, Crowd Management Failure, Railway Safety, India Train Accidents
