New Delhi:
Not less than 18 individuals, together with 11 ladies and 4 youngsters, died after a sudden rush of passengers attributable to two trains for the Maha Kumbh being delayed led to an overcrowding scenario on the New Delhi railway station on Saturday night time, officers mentioned.
The deaths have been confirmed by the chief casualty medical officer of the LNJP hospital in Delhi. Officers mentioned 10 ladies, three youngsters and two males died within the incident. Three extra deaths have been reported from Girl Harding hospital. The Railways has ordered an inquiry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident.
The chaotic scenario developed round 8 pm on platform numbers 14 and 15 of the station as passengers have been ready to board trains to Prayagraj.
Officers mentioned extra safety forces have been deployed to regulate the scenario on the railway station and 4 fireplace engines have been additionally rushed to the spot. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned the scenario is underneath management.
“State of affairs underneath management at New Delhi railway station (NDLS). Delhi Police and RPF (railway police power) reached. Injured taken to hospital. Particular trains being run to evacuate sudden rush,” the minister posted on X.
State of affairs underneath management at New Delhi railway station (NDLS)
Delhi Police and RPF reached. Injured taken to hospital. Particular trains being run to evacuate sudden rush.— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 15, 2025
Railway authorities urged individuals to not consider rumours of a stampede.
Whereas no deaths have been confirmed by the Railway authorities initially, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke a few lack of lives. Mr Saxena and the minister additionally referred to as the incident a stampede.
“There was an unlucky and tragic incident of lack of lives and accidents on account of dysfunction & stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My deepest condolences to the households of victims of this tragedy. Have spoken to Chief Secretary & Police Commissioner and requested them to handle and redress the scenario,” Mr Saxena posted on X.
There was an unlucky and tragic incident of lack of lives and accidents on account of dysfunction & stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My deepest condolences to the households of victims of this tragedy.
Have spoken to Chief Secretary & Police Commissioner and requested them to…
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) February 15, 2025
“CS has been requested to invoke DDMA (catastrophe administration) measures & deploy reduction personnel. All hospitals are in readiness to handle associated exegencies. Have instructed CS & CP to be on the web site and take management of reduction measures. I’m continually monitoring operations,” he added.
Mr Saxena later modified the submit to take away references to lack of lives in addition to a stampede.
Defence Minister Singh wrote, “Devastating information from New Delhi Railway Station. I’m extraordinarily pained by the lack of lives on account of stampede on Railway platform (sic). On this hour of grief, my ideas are with the bereaved households. Praying for the speedy of the injured.”
Devastating information from New Delhi Railway Station. I’m extraordinarily pained by the lack of lives on account of stampede on Railway platform. On this hour of grief, my ideas are with the bereaved households. Praying for the speedy of the injured.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 15, 2025
Movies confirmed an enormous crowd on the platform as a practice rolled in. Officers mentioned there was a rush to board the practice in addition to panic when passengers realised that not all of them would have the ability to get in. Within the movies, no less than two individuals have been additionally seen mendacity unconscious as others tried to resuscitate them. There have been additionally studies of jostling on account of crowding close to escalators.
“When the Prayagraj Categorical was on platform quantity 14, many individuals have been current there. The Swatatantra Senani Categorical and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani (each of which move by way of Prayagraj) have been delayed and passengers of those trains have been additionally current on platforms 12, 13 and 14,” mentioned a police official.
Condoling the lack of lives, PM Modi posted on X, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My ideas are with all those that have misplaced their family members. I pray that the injured have a speedy restoration. The authorities are helping all those that have been affected by this stampede.”
Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My ideas are with all those that have misplaced their family members. I pray that the injured have a speedy restoration. The authorities are helping all those that have been affected by this stampede.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2025
Rush Of Devotees
Particular trains for the Maha Kumbh have been witnessing ever bigger crowds with the pageant, which is held solely as soon as each 12 years, set to finish on February 26. Earlier this week, some passengers at Bihar’s Madhubani railway station broke the glass home windows of the Swatantrata Senani Categorical – which matches to Delhi through Prayagraj – after they have been unable to board the practice.
Related incidents associated to trains heading to Prayagraj have additionally been reported from different railway stations in Bihar and police instances have been registered.
Former Delhi chief minister Atishi attacked the Centre over the chaos on the New Delhi railway station. Earlier within the day, Samajwadi Occasion chief Akhilesh Yadav urged the Centre to increase the period of the Maha Kumbh to ease the push of devotees who’re hoping to take a dip on the Sangam.
“Even now, many individuals wish to go to Maha Kumbh however can’t. In such a scenario, the federal government ought to lengthen the time restrict of Maha Kumbh,” Mr Yadav mentioned, declaring that the Maha Kumbh lasted for 75 days earlier however is ending sooner this time. The final day of the Maha Kumbh, February 26, is Maha Shivratri.
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