Overcrowding at New Delhi’s main railway station led to tragedy when Maha Kumbh festival-goers attempted to board a train
A stampede at New Delhi’s main railway station on Saturday night resulted in the death of at least 18 people, including five children, and left several others injured. The incident occurred when thousands of pilgrims gaevthered to board trains heading to the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India, touted as the world’s largest religious gathering.
The stampede was triggered by an overwhelming crowd of passengers attempting to board the Prayagraj Express, a train bound for the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred around 8pm local time, as reported by NDTV. Delays of two other trains contributed to the congestion on multiple platforms, leading to an uncontrollable situation, Delhi Police said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “I am distressed by the stampede at the New Delhi railway station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede,” he shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the situation is now under control. He announced that the Railway Protection Force, along with Delhi Police, is actively managing the aftermath of the tragedy. He also conveyed his condolences, saying “the entire team is working to assist everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
VIDEO | Visuals from platform number 12 and 13 after a stampede-like situation broke out at the New Delhi Railway station, triggering a chaos on platform number 14 and 15.
This tragedy comes just two weeks after a similar incident at the site of the Maha Kumbh festival, which left 30 people dead and 90 others injured. The event, which spans six weeks, involves ritualistic bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. The gathering has already attracted over 510 million attendees, including India’s prime minister and key members of his cabinet, prominent celebrities and business leaders.
The festival has had a history of similar accidents. In 1954, the first Maha Kumbh Mela held after India gained independence from Britain saw nearly 800 people trampled to death or drowned in the river after a stampede broke out.
The Kumbh Mela held in Haridwar, a city in northern Uttarakhand state, witnessed a tragic stampede in 1986 that claimed at least 200 lives.
Another stampede took place in Nashik, Maharashtra, in 2003 when pilgrims surged at the Godavari River to take a dip during the Kumbh Mela, resulting in 41 fatalities and over 100 injuries. In 2013, the most recent such festival in Prayagraj saw a stampede that killed 42 and injured 45 others.
The Maha Kumbh festival is scheduled to continue until February 26, with millions more pilgrims expected to attend. Officials are urging attendees to remain vigilant and to follow safety protocols to ensure their well-being during the event.
