Patna: Former Union Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expressed deep sorrow over the stampede that took place at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night. He said, “The incident is very unfortunate, and I offer my condolences to the victims. This is mismanagement by the Railway that led to the loss of so many lives… The Railway Minister should take responsibility… ‘Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai. Faaltu hai kumbh.’”
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s remarks about Maha Kumbh stirred controversy as he called it “useless”. He criticized the railways, holding them accountable for the tragedy and demanded that the Railway Minister take responsibility for the mismanagement.
Details of stampede incident
The stampede took place on platforms 14 and 16 of New Delhi Railway Station around 9.30 pm on Saturday night. Eighteen people lost their lives, including nine women, five children, and four men, while 12 others sustained serious injuries. The injured are currently receiving treatment at Lady Hardinge and LNJP hospitals in Delhi. Most of the deceased were residents of Bihar and Delhi, with nine people from Bihar, eight from Delhi, and one from Haryana among the victims.
Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, issued the first official statement, saying, “When this tragic incident happened yesterday, Magadh Express going towards Patna was standing on platform number 14 of New Delhi Railway Station, and Uttar Sampark Kranti going towards Jammu was standing on platform number 15. Meanwhile, a passenger slipped on the stairs leading to platform number 14-15 from the foot overbridge, and many passengers standing behind him got hit by it. This tragic incident happened.”
Upadhyay clarified that no trains were canceled and no platforms were changed, contradicting earlier speculations. “A high-level committee is investigating this. The situation on the platform is now normal, and all trains are running on their regular schedule,” he added.
Victims and compensation
Most of the victims were women and children. The families of the deceased are in mourning, with many traveling from Bihar and Delhi for Maha Kumbh-related events. The Railway Ministry announced compensation for the victims. Families of the deceased will receive Rs 10 lakh each, while those seriously injured will be given Rs 2.5 lakh. Those with minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh.
The Railway Minister ordered a high-level investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
