New Delhi, 15 Feb: A tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night killed 16 people, including two children, and injured 10 others. The disaster happened on platforms 14 and 15 after two trains heading to Prayagraj were suddenly canceled, causing panic and overcrowding.
What Caused the Stampede?
The stampede broke out around 9:55 PM when a large crowd gathered due to train cancellations and delays. Two trains, the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani, were running late, and their passengers crowded platforms 12, 13, and 14. At the same time, the Prayagraj Express was already parked at platform 14. Police said about 1,500 general-class tickets were sold, making the crowd too big to control.
Emergency teams, including firefighters and medical staff, rushed to help. Four women were among those taken to hospitals. Officials said the situation is now under control, with police and railway security forces managing the area. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared on social media that four special trains were arranged to clear the crowd, and more trains will be added soon.
The stampede happened as millions of pilgrims are traveling across India for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Over 9.2 million devotees took a holy dip in the Sangam River by Saturday afternoon, according to state data. Indian Railways reported that nearly 2.8 lakh passengers left Prayagraj Station by 6 AM on Saturday, and over 10 lakh people traveled on 328 trains the day before.
While Northern Railways initially called the stampede a “rumor,” police and railway officials later confirmed the tragedy. The Railway Ministry stated that all injured were rushed to hospitals, and the station is now safe.
The incident has raised concerns about crowd management during large events like the Kumbh Mela. Authorities promised to investigate and improve safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
New Delhi Railway Station is now running normally, with extra trains added to handle the heavy pilgrim traffic. The country mourns the lives lost in this avoidable tragedy.
