Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 16: At least 18 people, including 11 women and five children, were killed and dozens of others injured in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway station on Saturday night following heavy rush to board trains to reach Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for a holy dip in the on-going Maha Kumbh Mela.
Even though the railways claimed that stampede was caused when some passengers “slipped” on the staircase of platform no 16 and no train was cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or changed to another platform, eye-witness accounts said the sudden rush of passengers was caused by two trains for the Maha Kumbh being delayed and the platform for the scheduled departure of one train for Prayagraj was suddenly changed from Platform no 12 to 16.
The Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg said the cause of the stampede was unclear, but initial reports suggested that the cancellation of two trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh led to crowding and chaos on two platforms.
The deaths were confirmed by the chief casualty medical officer of the LNJP hospital in Delhi. Officials said 10 women, three children and two men died in the incident. Three more deaths were reported at Lady Harding Hospital. Railways has ordered an inquiry and announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for the victims’ families, Rs 2.5 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries.
Nine victims were from Bihar, eight from Delhi, and one from Haryana. The Railways has asked its personnel to accompany those who have lost their family members to their hometowns outside Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the incident.
The chaotic situation developed around 8 pm on platform numbers 14 and 15 of the station as passengers were waiting to board trains to Prayagraj. In an official statement, the Ministry of Railways said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the “unfortunate incident”. It added that a sudden surge in passengers caused “panic”, leading to passengers fainting amid the “unprecedented rush situation.”
Railway officials reported that a rush began increasing at platform number 14, where the Prayagraj Express was scheduled to depart. The crowd had gathered to board trains heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The situation worsened when two other Prayagraj-bound trains, the Swatantrata Senani Express and the Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani, were delayed, further intensifying the crowding.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, said when Prayagraj Express was standing at platform number 14, lots of public was present at the platform. Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were delayed, and passengers of these trains were also present at platform no. 12,13 and 14, Malhotra added.
A porter (coolie) at the railway station (NDLS), said a Prayagraj Special train was scheduled to leave from platform number 12, but it was shifted to platform number 16. “When the crowd waiting at Platform 12 and the crowd waiting outside tried to reach Platform 16, people started colliding and fell on the escalator and stairs. Several collies gathered there to stop the crowd,” said the porter.
“I’ve been working as a coolie since 1981, but I’ve never witnessed a crowd like this before,” he said, recounting his terrifying experience of the stampede. Officials also claimed that the stampede occurred because one staircase on Platforms 14 and 15 was blocked to manage the crowd.
However, as train delays continued, more passengers began to gather on the stairs. It became overcrowded, with people pushing to either board the train or move towards the stairs. “The pushing caused many to fall and triggered the stampede. Others suffocated as the crowd on the platform grew,” said an official.
“As per CMI, railways sold 1,500 general tickets every hour, which caused the station to become overcrowded and uncontrollable. There was a stampede at platform no. 14 and near the escalator near platform no. 16,” said the deputy commissioner of police (Railways).
Officials said additional security forces have been deployed to control the situation at the railway station and four fire engines were also rushed to the spot. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the situation was under control.
“Situation under control at New Delhi railway station (NDLS). Delhi Police and RPF (railway police force) reached. Injured taken to hospital. Special trains being run to evacuate sudden rush,” the minister posted on X. Railway authorities urged people not to believe rumours of a stampede.
While no deaths were confirmed by the Railway authorities initially, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about loss of lives. Mr Saxena and the minister also called the incident a stampede. “There has been an unfortunate and tragic incident of loss of lives and injuries due to disorder & stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My deepest condolences to the families of victims of this tragedy. Have spoken to Chief Secretary & Police Commissioner and asked them to address and redress the situation,” Mr Saxena posted on X.
Videos showed a massive crowd at the platform as a train rolled in. Officials said there was a rush to board the train as well as panic when passengers realised that not all of them would be able to get in. In the videos, at least two people were also seen lying unconscious as others tried to resuscitate them. There were also reports of jostling due to crowding near escalators.
“When the Prayagraj Express was on platform number 14, many people were present there. The Swatatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani (both of which pass through Prayagraj) were delayed and passengers of these trains were also present on platforms 12, 13 and 14,” said a police official.
President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in the stampede at New Delhi Railway station. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured,” she said. Condoling the loss of lives, PM Modi posted on X, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.”
Special trains for the Maha Kumbh have been witnessing ever larger crowds with the festival set to end on February 26. Earlier this week, some passengers at Bihar’s Madhubani railway station broke the glass windows of the Swatantrata Senani Express – which goes to Delhi via Prayagraj – after they were unable to board the train. Similar incidents related to trains heading to Prayagraj have also been reported from other railway stations in Bihar and police cases have been registered.
Former Delhi chief minister Atishi attacked the Centre over the chaos at the New Delhi railway station. Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged the Centre to extend the duration of the Maha Kumbh to ease the rush of devotees who are hoping to take a dip at the Sangam.
“Even now, many people want to go to Maha Kumbh but cannot. In such a situation, the government should extend the time limit of Maha Kumbh,” Mr Yadav said, pointing out that the Maha Kumbh lasted for 75 days earlier but is ending sooner this time. The last day of the Maha Kumbh, February 26, is Maha Shivratri.
