New Delhi:

At least 18 people died after a huge rush of passengers, caused by two delayed trains and a special Express train to Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, led to a stampede at the New Delhi Railway station on Saturday night. While eyewitnesses claimed that a last-minute platform change announcement for the special train to Prayagraj caused panic before the deadly stampede, the Railways has denied any such change.

The Delhi police have now provided a clarification in this regard. According to the police, the arrival of another special train to Prayagraj – the Prayagraj Special – on platform number 16 confused the passengers waiting for the special train on platform number 14. Follow New Delhi Railway Station Stampede Live Updates here

“The announcement of the Prayagraj Special arriving at Platform 16 led to confusion because the Prayagraj Express was already at Platform 14. People who could not reach their train at Platform 14 thought their train was arriving at Platform 16 leading to the stampede. Additionally, four other trains were heading to Prayagraj, out of which three were delayed, causing unexpected overcrowding,” the police said.

A top Railway official said that the incident was caused after a passenger slipped on the nearby stairs.

“Trains were not cancelled, and the platform was not changed. All trains have been running as per its schedule,” Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO Northern Railway said.

The Railways has also formed a two-member high-level committee to probe the incident. Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railway and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Northern Railway are a part of the committee, officials said.

The committee, which has commenced its inquiry, gave orders to secure all video footage of the New Delhi Railway Station.

Out of the 18 victims in the incident, 11 were women and four were children. A dozen more people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Majority of the victims who sustained injuries reportedly have suffered lower limb injuries while others suffered from bone injuries.

New Delhi:

Millions of devotees from across India have been visiting the ongoing Maha Kumbh mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj – one that is held every 12 years – causing a huge rush in trains and traffic on roads. A wave of stampede-like incidents and angry passengers breaking train windows as they were unable to board the train to Maha Kumbh amid the rush have come to light recently.

Last night, at least 18 people, including 11 women and five children, died after a huge crowd of passengers caused by two delayed trains and a special Express train to Maha Kumbh led to a stampede at the New Delhi Railway station.

While eyewitnesses claimed that the stampede took place after a rumour spread among people that the Prayagraj Express was going to arrive on a different platform, the Railway authorities have repeatedly denied it. Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO Northern Railway said that there was already a huge rush on the station’s platform when a passenger slipped on the nearby stairs, leading to the deadly stampede.

According to the official, platforms number 13 and 14 at the New Delhi Railway station were already crowded as many people were waiting to board two trains – Magdh Express and another going towards Jammu – which were delayed. Amid this, a special train for Maha Kumbh, the Prayagraj Express, was to leave at 10:10 pm from platform number 14. As the time for the train to Prayagraj neared, more and more people started gathering on the platform, adding to the existing rush. During this time, more than a thousand general tickets were bought by passengers to go to Maha Kumbh, officials said.

“Trains were not cancelled, and the platform was not changed. All trains have been running as per its schedule,” he said.

The Railways has also formed a two-member high-level committee to probe the incident. Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railway and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Northern Railway are a part of the committee, officials said.

The committee, which has commenced its inquiry, gave orders to secure all video footage of the New Delhi Railway Station.

How Railways is managing Maha Kumbh rush in Prayagraj

As millions of people are visiting Prayagraj, the railway authorities have made extensive security measures across the city’s stations.

Shashikant Tripathi, CRPO of North Central Railway told NDTV that they have been maintaining protocol at all railway stations in the city. “Through these protocols, either on normal day rush or key days like ‘mauni amavasiya’, we have made a smooth entry and exit for passengers. With the help of colour-coded areas, we have helped the passengers board and deboard trains safely.”

According to him, they do not need to enforce any new protocols.

“We have been working well with these protocols. In the case of Prayagraj junction, we only allow the passengers to enter through the city side and the exit is done through civil lines side. We have 4 passenger sheds which are colour-coded and directions have been defined on them. Whenever the limit of passengers crosses at these sheds, we activate the Kusrow Bagh area – from where the passengers can travel. All basic amenities have also been provided at these locations,” he added.

New Delhi:

At least 18 people, mostly women and children, died and dozens were injured in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night. Among the victims were nine people from Bihar, eight from Delhi and one from Haryana.

Full list:

Children:

Riya Singh, 7, daughter of Opil Singh, resident of Sagarpur, Delhi
Pooja Kumar, 8, daughter of Raj Kumar Manjhi, resident of Nawada, Bihar
Neeraj, 12, son of Indrajit Paswan resident of Vaishali, Bihar
Suruchi, 11, daughter of Manoj Shah, resident of Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Vijay Sah, 15, son of Ram Sarup Sah, resident of Samastipur, Bihar

Women:

Baby Kumari, 24, daughter of Prabhu Sah, resident of Bijwasan, Delhi
Sangeeta Malik, 34, wife of Mohit Malik, resident of Bhiwani, Haryana
Poonam, 34, wife of Virendra Singh, resident of Mahavir Enclave, Delhi
Lalita Devi, 35, wife of Santosh, resident of Parana, Bihar
Poonam Devi, 40, wife of Meghnath, resident of Saran, Bihar
Mamta Jha, 40, wife of Vipin Jha, resident of Nangloi, Delhi
Krishna Devi, 40, wife of Vijay Shah, resident of Samastipur, Bihar
Shanti Devi, 40, wife of Raj Kumar Manjhi, resident of Nawada, Bihar
Pinky Devi, 41, wife of Upendra Sharma, resident of Sangam Vihar, Delhi
Sheela Devi, 50, wife of Umesh Giri, resident of Sarita Vihar, Delhi
Aha Devi, 79, wife of Ravindi Nath, resident of Buxar, Bihar

Men:

Vyom, 25, son of Dharamvir, resident of Bawana, Delhi
Manoj, 47, son of Panchdev Kushwaha, resident of Nangloi, Delhi

Injured people were undergoing treatment at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital.

The LNJP hospital has released helpline numbers: +919873617028 and 011-23501207.

A financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh has been announced for the victims’ families, Rs 2.5 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries.

Stampede At New Delhi Railway Station

The stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station took place when hundreds of passengers were waiting to board trains for Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj to attend the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

A senior railway official said the incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down from a footover bridge.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have grieved the deaths.

“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for a speedy recovery of those injured,” President Murmu said in a post on X.

PM Modi said he was “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 said.

New Delhi:

Hours after a devastating stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station that led to 18 deaths and left several others injured last night, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the Centre and the Railways, accusing them of negligence and failure to manage the crisis. 

“The news of several people dying and many getting injured due to the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station is extremely sad and distressing. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mr Gandhi said.

He blamed the government and the railway administration for failing to anticipate the crowd surge, particularly given the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

नई दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर भगदड़ मचने से कई लोगों की मृत्यु और कईयों के घायल होने की ख़बर अत्यंत दुखद और व्यथित करने वाली है।

शोकाकुल परिवारों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं और घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की आशा करता हूं।

यह घटना एक बार फिर रेलवे की नाकामी और सरकार…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 16, 2025

“This incident once again highlights the failure of the Railways and the insensitivity of the government. Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station. The government and administration should ensure that no one has to lose their life due to mismanagement and negligence,” Mr Gandhi added.

READ | “No One Was Listening”: Air Force Official Recounts Delhi Stampede Horror

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed her brother’s concerns, calling the loss of lives “extremely sad.”

“The news of the death of many people including women and children in the stampede due to crowd at New Delhi Railway Station is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said.

नई दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर भीड़ की वजह से मची भगदड़ में महिलाओं और बच्चों समेत कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है।

ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें। शोक-संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूं।

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 16, 2025

Party leader KC Venugopal went further, calling the stampede a “massive calamity” and raised questions about the Centre’s handling of the situation. 

READ | “My Sister Was Dead When We Found Her”: Chilling Tales From Delhi Stampede

“This kind of a disaster taking place in the national capital, under the direct watch of the Central Government, shows that the government is utterly incompetent and is only capable of PR, not actual management. The Government has again tried to downplay the situation. When will we know the exact figures of the dead and injured? Why were crowd control measures not in place? Why did the railways not run special trains when they knew this crowd was to be anticipated in light of the Mahakumbh? Mr Venugopal asked. 

The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station is shocking and deeply tragic. The visuals that have come out are scary, and point to a massive calamity. I convey my deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

This kind…

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 16, 2025

Former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav called for the resignation of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

What We Know So Far

The stampede happened around 9:55 PM on Saturday night on platform numbers 14 and 15 of the New Delhi Railway Station. The crowd consisted mostly of passengers bound for Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is currently taking place.

The stampede resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including 11 women and four children – two of whom were under the age of 10. Fifteen others sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.

The Delhi Police have launched an official investigation into the incident. They are reviewing CCTV footage from the station and analysing public announcements made at the time.

Eyewitness Accounts

Passengers present at the scene described horrifying moments of chaos.

A survivor, Dharmendra Singh, said he was travelling with his family when the stampede broke out.

“I was going to Prayagraj but many trains were running late or were cancelled. The station was overcrowded. There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station. In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers,” Mr Singh said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Another passenger, Pramod Chaurasia, described the intensity of the crowd surge.

“I had a sleeper-class ticket for Purushottam Express, but even those with confirmed tickets could not board the train. One of my friends and a female passenger got stuck in the crowd. There was too much pushing and jostling. We managed to stay safe by waiting outside with our children.”

One of the victims’ relatives broke down as he described losing his mother in the crush.

“We were travelling to our home in Chhapra, Bihar, in a group, but my mother died in the chaos. People were pushing each other. The doctor has confirmed to us that my mother has died,” the relative said. 

Government Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the tragedy in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Distressed by the stampede at 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.”

Distressed by the stampede at 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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2025

“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured,” President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X.

Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 16, 2025

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also expressed his grief at the deaths

“Deeply saddened by the unfortunate stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station. My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident,” he said. 

Deeply saddened by the unfortunate stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station. My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 15, 2025

The Railways has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for the victims’ families, Rs 2.5 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those who suffered minor injuries. 

New Delhi:

At least 18 people, including 11 women and four children, died after a huge rush of passengers caused by two delayed trains and a special Express train to Maha Kumbh led to a stampede at the New Delhi Railway station on Saturday night. Over a dozen people have also been injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.

The incident took place around 9.55 pm, prompting an emergency response from authorities.

The Ministry of Railways has ordered an inquiry into the “unfortunate” incident and formed a two-member high-level committee to investigate the matter.

What led to the stampede?

Delays in train departures and the sale of around 1,500 general tickets exacerbated the situation and contributed to the overwhelming crowd, officials said.

According to the police, platforms number 13 and 14 at the New Delhi Railway station were already crowded as many people were waiting to board two trains – Swatantrata Senani and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani – which were delayed. Amid this, a special train for Maha Kumbh, the Prayagraj Express, was to leave at 10:10 pm from platform number 14.

As the time for the train to Prayagraj neared, more and more people started gathering on the platform, adding to the existing rush. During this time, more than a thousand general tickets were bought by passengers to go to Maha Kumbh, officials said.

Additionally, a rumour also spread among people that the Prayagraj Express was going to arrive on a different platform.

This led to the passengers pushing each other and rushing towards the stairs, causing a stampede.

A wave of similar incidents has been taking place recently as special trains are arranged for the Maha Kumbh – a grand festival held only once every 12 years. Earlier this week, some passengers at Bihar’s Madhubani railway station broke the glass windows of the Swatantrata Senani Express – which goes to Delhi via Prayagraj – after they were unable to board the train.

Also Read | “No One Was Listening”: Air Force Official On New Delhi Station Stampede

President, PM Modi express grief 

President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured,” she said.

Condoling the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, “Distressed by the stampede at 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.”

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena called the incident “unfortunate” and “tragic” and expressed grief over the loss of lives. “My deepest condolences to the families of victims of this tragedy. Have spoken to Chief Secretary & Police Commissioner and asked them to address and redress the situation,” he said.

New Delhi:

Multiple videos have emerged showing crowds pouring over each other at the New Delhi Railway Station before a stampede killed at least 18 people and injured dozens on Saturday night. The rush at the station broke out as crowds struggled to board trains for Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh, which has so far attracted more than 50 crore devotees.

The videos show passengers pushing each other on the platforms to board the trains. Some men were also seen entering the trains through windows.

The stampede at the NDLS, which broke out around 10 pm, was preceded by a swell in the crowd of passengers waiting to board trains for Prayagraj on platform numbers 14 and 15.

“People were pushing each other,” a man whose mother died in the stampede told reporters.

Another passenger said the station was “overcrowded”.

“I was going to Prayagraj but many trains were running late or were cancelled. The station was overcrowded. There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station,” he said.

What Led To New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

An official said platform number 14 was very crowded when the Prayagraj Express train was waiting there for its departure. He said two other trains –  Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express –  were delayed and the passengers of these trains were also present on platform numbers 12, 13 and 14.

“As per CMI (Commercial-cum-Ticket Inspector), every hour 1,500 general tickets were sold by railways due to which the station got overcrowded and became uncontrollable. There was a stampede at platform no 14 and near escalator near platform no 16,” he said.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have grieved the deaths.

“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for a speedy recovery of those injured,” President Murmu said in a post on X.

PM Modi said he was “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 said.

New Delhi:

A stampede occurred at New Delhi Railway Station, resulting in the loss of 15 lives on Saturday. The incident happened around 10 pm when thousands of devotees were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, causing severe overcrowding at the station.

An eyewitness, an Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant on Sunday recounted that despite announcements and efforts to convince people to avoid gathering in large numbers, the crowd remained unmanageable. He said the administration attempted to control the crowd, but people didn’t listen.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Ajit 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.”

Another eyewitness recounted the horror, saying that the crowd was beyond the limit.

“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,” he said.

One of the victim’s brothers at the LNJP hospital, who lost his sister in the stampede, said, “We were 12 people going to Maha Kumbh. We hadn’t even reached the platform but were at the stairs… My family, including my sister, were stuck in the crowd. We found her after half an hour, and by the time she was dead.”

Another eyewitness described the chaos, stating that the crowd came from both sides after an announcement about a train platform change, leading to the stampede.

“There was no one to control the crowd… It was announced that the train coming on platform number 12 would come on platform number 16. So the crowd came from both sides and a stampede occurred…some people were taken to the hospital…,” he said.

Delays in train departures and the sale of around 1,500 general tickets exacerbated the situation and contributed to the overwhelming crowd.

Among the affected passengers, Pappu, a resident of Bihar’s Patna, shared his grief, saying, “My mother died in the stampede. We were on our way home.”

NDRF Commandant Daulat Ram Chaudhary confirmed that the situation was now under control. “…The situation is under control now. The injured have been evacuated…We received information about a stampede at platform no. 14 at the station… We are carrying out the rescue operations…”

DCP Railway KPS Malhotra stated that while the authorities had anticipated a large crowd, the incident unfolded within moments.

“We expected the crowd, but it all happened in a fraction of time, and hence this situation occurred. The fact-finding will be done by the Railways… After inquiry, we will get to know the reason behind the incident,” he told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Railway Board, on Sunday, informed that a two-member high-level committee had been formed to investigate the matter and determine the cause of the stampede at New Delhi railway station.

“A two-member high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter… The situation is under control, and the passengers have been sent by special train… Train movement at the railway station is normal now,” Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity (ED/IP), Railway Board.

According to Mr Kumar, the station was experiencing an unusually high volume of passengers, prompting the railways to operate four additional special trains to manage the crowd.

To regain control of the situation, entry to the railway station was temporarily blocked.

“The number of passengers was relatively very high today at the New Delhi railway station, and so we ran four more special trains. We received information that a few people fainted – they have been admitted to a local hospital. We blocked entry to the railway station for a while, but the situation is under control now,” added Mr Kumar.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, the incident occurred when a large number of passengers gathered on platform no. 14, where the Prayagraj Express was stationed. Additionally, delays in the departures of Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani led to further congestion at platforms 12, 13, and 14.