Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Leaves 18 Dead, Sparks Outrage Over Safety Measures
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede: 18 Dead, 12 Injured in Tragic Chaos
BNH NETWORK
New Delhi - In a devastating incident, 18 people lost their lives and over 12 sustained injuries during a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night. Northern Railway PRO Himanshu Upadhyay confirmed that the Magadh Express, bound for Patna, was stationed at Platform 14, while the Jammu Tawi Sampark Kranti Express was at Platform 15. According to him, the stampede began when passengers descending the stairs from the foot-over bridge slipped and fell on each other.
Contrary to circulating rumors, Upadhyay clarified that no trains were canceled or platform changes made. The chaos was not due to platform alterations, as speculated. The railway had operated five to six special trains for the Kumbh Mela, but none had their platforms changed.
Confusion Over Similar Train Names Blamed
Delhi Police reported that the arrival announcement of the Prayagraj Special at Platform 16 caused confusion among passengers waiting for the Prayagraj Express at Platform 14. Many assumed their train had shifted, triggering the stampede. Adding to the overcrowding, delays of three other trains to Prayagraj led to an influx of passengers. Sources revealed that delays and the sale of approximately 1,500 general tickets per hour contributed to the disorder.
Investigation Underway
A two-member committee, comprising Northern Railway’s Principal Chief Commercial Manager Narsingh Dev and Principal Chief Security Commissioner Pankaj Gangwar, has been formed to investigate the incident. All CCTV footage from the station is being reviewed.
The railway announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for the severely injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath expressed their condolences.
Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Horror
Railway staff spent the night clearing the platform littered with shoes, torn bags, and even a child’s school bag. A staff member recalled, “There were slippers, half-eaten food, and a child’s bag scattered everywhere. People ran to save their lives.”
The incident, which occurred around 9:55 PM, saw some passengers climbing railings to escape, while others were trampled. Among the deceased were five children, including two under 10 years old.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Asha Devi (79), Pinky Devi (41), Sheela Devi (50), Vyom (25), Poonam Devi (40), Lalita Devi (35), Suruchi (11), Krishna Devi (40), Vijay Sah (15), Neeraj (12), Shanti Devi (40), Pooja Kumari (8), Sangeeta Malik (34), Poonam (34), Mamta Jha (40), Riya Singh (7), Baby Kumari (24), and Manoj (47). All bodies were handed over to their families by 9 AM.
Heart-Wrenching Tales of Loss
Pinky Devi, traveling with her family for the Kumbh pilgrimage, was among the victims. Her relative Pintu Sharma blamed railway mismanagement for the stampede, stating that timely communication about train delays could have prevented the crowd.
Porters at the station recounted using their carts to transport bodies. Krishna Kumar Jogi, a porter, said, “The crowd on the foot-over bridge was unbearable. Many suffocated and died. We carried the bodies on our carts.”
Lingering Questions on Safety Measures
The tragedy has raised several questions:
- Why was there insufficient RPF and GRP presence to control the crowd?
- Why were timely crowd control measures not implemented despite rising numbers?
- Why were additional security forces not deployed?
- Why were entry points not closed when the station exceeded its capacity?
- Why were clear directions and safety protocols not followed?
