18 Dead, Several Injured In New Delhi Railway Station After Stampede Due To Rush
On a sorrowful Saturday evening, New Delhi Railway Station was the scene of a devastating stampede that claimed the lives of 18 individuals, including five children and nine women. The incident unfolded on platforms 13 and 14, overwhelmed by an unexpected surge of passengers eager to travel to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The chaos began when the Prayagraj Express was stationed at platform 14, already crowded with passengers. The situation was exacerbated by the arrival of two other delayed trains, Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani, leading to an uncontrollable crowd. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railway) KPS Malhotra, the sale of around 1500 general tickets contributed to the congestion, creating a stampede-like situation near the escalator on platform 14.
As the tragedy unfolded, the Delhi Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) quickly responded, moving the injured to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital. The Railways took proactive steps by arranging four special trains to manage the sudden rush of passengers. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his condolences and confirmed the running of these special trains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other high-ranking officials like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, expressed their grief over the incident. The Ministry of Railways has launched an in-depth investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the stampede, with initial reports pointing towards overcrowding due to the Maha Kumbh Mela train services.
Despite the Railways’ initial denial of a stampede, claiming it was just a rumor spread by a video, the severity of the situation led to a more serious response. The Delhi LG has instructed the deployment of disaster management measures and has hospitals on alert for any further emergencies.
Political figures like former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the lack of adequate arrangements for the devotees, emphasizing the need for better safety measures during such large-scale religious gatherings. The tragedy has sparked a debate on crowd management and safety protocols at major transit points during peak times.
The incident at New Delhi Railway Station serves as a grim reminder of the challenges posed by massive gatherings like the Maha Kumbh Mela. As investigations continue, there is a strong call for improved infrastructure and planning to prevent such tragedies in the future. The community’s thoughts are with the families of those lost, hoping for better days ahead in terms of safety and management at India’s bustling railway stations.
