NEW DEHLI: A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night at approximately 9:26 PM resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including 14 women and three children. More than 25 others sustained injuries.
The deceased were taken to Delhi’s RML Hospital. According to hospital staff sources, most bodies had injuries on the chest and abdomen. The cause of death was reported as suffocation.
Crowd Surge Due to Train Delays
The incident occurred between platforms 13, 14, and 15. Since 4 PM, a large crowd had gathered at the station, primarily intending to travel to the Mahakumbh.
Around 8:30 PM, delays in three trains bound for Prayagraj led to a further increase in the crowd. According to eyewitnesses, a last-minute platform change from 14 to 16 caused panic, leading to the stampede.
Investigation Committee Formed
A two-member committee has been set up to investigate the incident. The committee consists of Northern Railway officials Narsingh Dev and Pankaj Gangwar. They have ordered the preservation of all CCTV footage from New Delhi Railway Station for analysis.
This incident follows a similar tragedy on January 29, when 30 people lost their lives at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Additionally, on February 10, 2013, a stampede at Prayagraj railway station during the Kumbh Mela resulted in 36 fatalities.
