NEW DELHI: A stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday night because of an unprecedented number of passengers headed for Maha Kumbh is learned to have claimed at least 18 lives, including three children.
Many people were injured in the ensuing panic and mad scramble to either board the trains or rush out of the station.
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The chief casualty medical officer at LNJP confirmed that 18 people had lost their lives and 10 others were injured. The casualties we- re mostly due to suffocation. “Distressed by the stampede. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” PM Modi posted on X.
Thousands of passengers were caught in the deadly crush that unfolded in a matter of minutes, leaving a trail of death in its wake. Frantic screams and cries for help filled the air. The chaotic situa tion began to unfold at 9.45pm. A large number of people headed for Prayagraj had gathered on platform numbers 13 and 14 to board their trains, officials said. According to railway police, a massive crowd was waiting for Prayagraj Express on platform no. 14.
“Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were delayed, and passengers of these trains were also present at platform no. 12, 13 and 14, leading to a massive build-up of crowds,” a senior officer said. According to railway police, 1,500 general tickets had been sold and that was the primary reason the crowd became unmanageable.
“The stampede-like situation was mainly on platform no. 14 and near the escalator near platform no. 1,” said a senior cop.
The announcement of the arrival of a special train may have added to the chaos. An FIR of causing death due to negligence was being registered and a special team formed to investigate the matter.
“Situation under control at New Delhi railway station. Delhi Police and RPF have reached. The injured were taken to hospital. 4 special trains were run to evacuate sudden rush,” railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav posted on X.
Most deaths due to suffocation
Stampede Unfolded As People Rushed To Catch Special Train
There has been an unfortunate and tragic incident at New Delhi Railway Station,” lieutenant general V K Saxena posted on X.
“Have spoken to chief secretary & police commissioner and asked them to address the situation. CS has been asked to deploy relief personnel. Have instructed CS & CP to be at the site and take control of relief measures. I’m constantly monitoring operations,” the LG added.
Initially, there were reports that four women had been hospitalised after they fainted due to suffocation. “The overcrowding resulted in severe suffocation, leaving four female passengers unconscious. Their condition was reported to be critical and they were immediately rushed to a hospital for medical treatment,” said DCP KPS Malhotra.
Delhi Fire Services had received an emergency call and promptly dispatched four fir e tenders. Additionally, ambulances were rushed to the spot.
A passenger going to Prayagraj said he was travelling with his family and had a reservation with the train scheduled to leave at 10.40pm.
“We reached at 8.30pm but it was too crowded. Then the stampede happened. People fell in front of the train. Officials arrived and took away those who were injured. The situation was very bad between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. My train left but we could not board it,” he added.
The victims were admitted to different hospitals of the city with Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital receiving the maximum number of injured.