New Delhi: A stampede at New Delhi’s main railway station on Saturday night claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left another 15 injured, Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi confirmed on Sunday.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time (1430 GMT) on two crowded platforms as passengers waited to board trains bound for Prayagraj, where the Hindu Maha Kumbh festival is taking place, according to local media reports. The victims included 10 women and three children, with videos and images showing chaotic scenes of people pushing over one another as emergency teams worked to manage the situation.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi, who only uses one name, stated on X that many of the victims were pilgrims traveling to the Maha Kumbh.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several federal ministers acknowledged the stampede in posts on X, though they did not disclose the casualty count.
“Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” Modi posted on X.
India’s Interior Minister Amit Shah also addressed the situation, stating that he had spoken to the railway minister to assess the response.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that an inquiry had been ordered and announced that four special trains were dispatched to ease congestion at the station.
“The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident,” Vaishnaw stated on X, adding that the situation was now under control.
The stampede follows a similar tragedy at the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India last month, where a pre-dawn rush resulted in dozens of fatalities as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for a sacred river bath.
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Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena visited a local hospital to meet the injured victims.
“This is a very tragic incident, and we pray for those who have lost their lives,” Atishi said.
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India has experienced multiple railway accidents over the past two years, including a 2023 train collision that resulted in at least 288 deaths. Indian Railways, the world’s fourth-largest rail network, is currently undergoing a $30 billion modernization initiative as part of Modi’s push to enhance national connectivity.
