Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Claims 18 Lives Amid Kumbh Mela Rush
A deadly stampede at New Delhi’s railway station late Saturday left at least 18 people dead as crowds surged to board trains heading to the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest Hindu religious gathering, VOA reported. The incident occurred when a platform for a special train to Prayagraj was abruptly shifted, causing panic among passengers.
Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent at Lok Nayak Hospital, confirmed 15 fatalities, attributing the deaths to hypoxia or blunt injuries. Eleven others sustained orthopedic injuries but are reported to be stable. Broadcaster NDTV cited three additional deaths at another hospital.
Most victims were women and children. A porter at the station described the chaos, stating he had never seen such a crowd in his 40-year career. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a high-level inquiry and additional trains to manage the rush.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed distress over the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved and prayers for the injured. The six-week Kumbh Mela, which began last month, has already drawn around 500 million devotees. The festival has a history of crowd-related disasters, including a 2013 stampede that killed 36.
