New Delhi: A chaotic situation unfolded at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, resulting in a stampede-like incident that claimed at least 18 lives. The incident took place around 10 pm on platforms 14 and 15. Authorities, including rescue teams and four fire tenders, were rushed to the spot to manage the situation and assist the injured, according to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg.
The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, but initial reports suggested that the rush was triggered by train services heading to Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. An official from DFS said that overcrowding on the platforms was a significant factor.
Eyewitness accounts
Ajit, a sergeant in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and an eyewitness, described the overwhelming crowd. He said, “We have a tri-service office at the railway station. When I was returning after my duty, I couldn’t go as there was a huge crowd. I tried to convince people and also made announcements appealing to people to avoid gathering on the platform in large numbers. The administration was working hard to prevent any mishap, but no one was listening. I also helped the injured people with the help of one of my friends.”
Passengers trapped in the stampede recounted the horrifying experience. A woman from Sangam Vihar in Delhi, travelling to Maha Kumbh, said, “We were stuck in the crowd for an hour. We were able to save our lives with great difficulty.”
Another female passenger described the overcrowding on the platform. She said, “There was no place to even put feet on the platform. Those who did not have tickets were sitting in the train, and those who had reserved seats were standing outside. A policeman told me to leave from here to save my life.”
Witnesses highlight overcrowding and mismanagement as major issues
Witnesses highlighted the overwhelming crowd as a major issue. One passenger said, “People had climbed over each other. When the jostling started, I moved away from the stairs. People were pushing each other, and I pulled some people out of the crowd.”
Another passenger said that the stampede near platform 15’s escalator began as multiple trains, including Prayagraj Express, Swatantrata Senani Express, and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, were delayed, leading to overcrowding on nearby platforms. According to railway sources, around 1,500 general tickets were sold every hour, making it difficult to manage the swelling crowd.
An eyewitness, Ravi, recounted the events leading to the stampede. He said, “The stampede broke out around 9.30 pm. When people on platform number 13 saw trains on platforms 14 and 15, they moved towards these platforms. The platforms of the trains were not changed, but the crowd was so huge that it could not be controlled.”
Another witness described the chaotic scene, “The crowd was beyond the limit; people were gathered at the (foot over) bridge. Such a huge crowd wasn’t expected. I have never seen such a massive crowd at the railway station, even during the festivals. People from the administration and even NDRF personnel were there, but when the crowd exceeded the limit, it wasn’t possible to control them.”
