A sudden surge of people at the New Delhi railway station led to a devastating stampede, causing numerous casualties.
According to foreign media outlets, including the BBC, on Sunday, a crowd gathered on the platform around 8 PM on Saturday to board a train to Prayagraj in northern Uttar Pradesh, resulting in 18 deaths.
A police official stated, “Two trains arrived late and attracted more people, leading to the tragedy.” They confirmed at least 18 fatalities and over 10 injuries, with local media reporting that three of the deceased were children.
Police reports indicate that platforms 12 and 13 were packed with passengers waiting for delayed trains at the time of the incident. As an express train bound for Prayagraj arrived on platform 14, people rushed to board it, resulting in the deadly stampede.
Prayagraj will host the Hindu festival Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival, from January 13 to February 26.
This city is significant in Hinduism because it is where the holy rivers of the Ganges and Yamuna converge. Pilgrims immerse themselves in the waters to wash away their sins.
Indian authorities anticipate that around 450 million pilgrims will attend the festival. The massive crowds have already led to several incidents. On January 29, over 30 people died in a rush to enter the river.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized the government for administrative failures that contributed to this disaster.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Indian Parliament, expressed on X (formerly Twitter), “Given the high number of pilgrims heading to Prayagraj, better preparations at the station were necessary.”
