At Least 18 Killed in Crowd Crush at Delhi Railway Station Amid Kumbh Mela Rush
New Delhi – At least 18 people lost their lives in a tragic crowd crush at a railway station in India’s capital, as thousands of travelers scrambled to board trains heading to the world’s largest religious gathering, officials confirmed.
The stampede occurred on Saturday at a train station in Delhi as devotees rushed to reach the Kumbh Mela, a massive Hindu pilgrimage held every 12 years in Prayagraj. The festival, which attracts tens of millions of worshippers, has a history of tragic crowd-related incidents. Last month, at least 30 people died in a separate crush at the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
According to reports, the chaos at the railway station erupted when a platform designated for a special train to Prayagraj was suddenly changed. Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic as travelers collided and fell on escalators and stairs. A porter at the station, who has worked there since 1981, told the Times of India, “I have never seen a crowd like this before. People started colliding and fell on the escalator and stairs.”
The fatalities included 10 women and three children, local media reported. Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi, confirmed 15 deaths at the hospital, stating, “They don’t have any open injuries. Most likely, they died from hypoxia or blunt injuries, but that will be confirmed after an autopsy.” Additionally, 11 people sustained injuries, with most in stable condition and suffering from orthopedic injuries.
Broadcaster NDTV reported three more fatalities, citing another hospital in the city.
Authorities have launched a high-level investigation into the causes of the tragedy. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that additional special trains were being deployed from Delhi to ease the rush of devotees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating on social media platform X: “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The authorities are providing all necessary assistance.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed his grief, saying he was “extremely pained by the loss of lives due to the stampede.” The governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, directed disaster management teams to be on high alert and ordered hospitals to be prepared for emergencies.
The six-week-long Kumbh Mela is considered the most significant event in the Hindu religious calendar. Officials estimate that around 500 million devotees have already attended the festival since it commenced last month.
Historically, the Kumbh Mela has witnessed devastating stampedes. In 1954, over 400 people died in a single day due to a massive crush. More recently, in 2013, 36 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at Prayagraj during the last edition of the festival.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and implement measures to prevent further incidents as the festival continues until February 26.
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