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.

Officials said that decision was taken expecting rush for the Kumbh Mela during the weekend. (File)

Prayagraj:

Amid heightened security measures, more than two crore devotees took a dip in the Sangam till 6 pm on Wednesday on the occasion of Maghi Purnima during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela here.

According to an official statement, special arrangements have been made for the sacred bath that began early Wednesday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been monitoring the event since 4 am at the war room in his official residence in Lucknow, the statement said.

With the ‘snan’ on Maghi Purnima, another auspicious day for holy bath, the month-long ‘Kalpavas’ will be ending and around 10 lakh ‘Kalpavasis’ will start leaving the Maha Kumbh. The administration has requested them to follow traffic rules and use only authorised parking spaces.

While lakhs of devotees are headed to the Sangam area, the government in the statement said that by 6 pm, over two crore people had taken the ritual dip at the Triveni Sangam and other ghats.

Overall since the start of the Maha Kumbh, over 47 crore people have taken a dip in the Sangam, it said.

Flower petals were also showered on devotees from helicopter.

Cricket legend Anil Kumble took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam along with his wife Chaitna Ramtirtha.

After arriving in Prayagraj on Tuesday, Kumble chose to perform the bathing ritual on Maghi Purnima, a day when no VIP protocols are observed. He joined the devotees as a regular pilgrim, taking a boat to the confluence with his wife for the ritual.

Director General of Police Prashant Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and officials of CM Secretariat are also present at the war room, the statement said.

Maha Kumbh Mela DIG Vaibhav Krishna said, “Our arrangements are quite good and police deployment is there at all places. Crowd is moving comfortably. Our SOPs are being followed.” Maha Kumbh SSP Rajesh Dwivedi said the movement of devotees was going on smoothly and that security personnel were taking care of all (crowd) pressure points.

“We made elaborate arrangements during the previous ‘snan’ on Basant Panchami too. Our arrangements have been further augmented this time,” he said.

Talking about security arrangements in place for the sacred ‘snan’, the SSP said, “More deployment has been done at all the pressure points. Along with that, we are briefing people to ensure a smooth movement.” The UP government also launched ‘Operation Chaturbhuj’ at the Maha Kumbh to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

According to the statement, the initiative has strengthened security with advanced surveillance by the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), which monitored the event using 2,750 high-tech cameras, drones, and an anti-drone system for round-the-clock vigilance.

Mahakumbh Nagar SSP Rajesh Dwivedi said aerial surveillance and strict anti-drone measures have been put in place to ensure safety.

Meanwhile, Adityanath greeted everyone on the holy bathing festival.

“Heartiest greetings to all the revered saints, religious leaders, Kalpavasis and devotees who have come for the holy bath at the sacred Triveni in Maha Kumbh-2025, Prayagraj. May everyone’s life be filled with happiness, prosperity and good fortune by the grace of Lord Shri Hari. May Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna and Maa Saraswati fulfill everyone’s wishes,” he said in a post on X.

According to officials, the fair area was declared a ‘no vehicle zone’ from 4 am on Tuesday, while the entire city became a no-vehicle zone from 5 pm onwards, with an exemption for emergency and essential services.

To avoid traffic chaos, designated parking lots have been marked for public and private vehicles.

Prayagraj ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said special police forces have been deployed at all places where crowd management becomes challenging.

The special traffic plan will remain in force till the completion of the ritual to ensure safe evacuation of devotees from the fair area in case of any emergency, the officials said.

Bhaskar said real time data is being collected from toll plazas and officials of neighbouring districts so that the number of vehicles coming and the routes can be monitored and regulated.

Pilgrims said the arrangements at the Maha Kumbh were good.

Srinivas, who came from Andhra Pradesh to take a dip, said, “It feels good. The UP government has made good arrangements. Many thanks to Yogi Adityanath and PM Narendra Modi.” Another devotee, Gayatri, said, “I am very happy to be here on this auspicious occasion. The UP government has created a good atmosphere here. Being a Hindu, this is the first time I have really felt like an Indian. People have shown their religiousness and unity has been promoted.” The state transport department has arranged 1,200 additional shuttle buses, which will be available for the devotees every 10 minutes, the officials said.

The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26 with the final ‘Amrit Snan’ on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

A stampede during the Manui Amavasya ‘Amirt Snan’ on January 29 had left 30 dead and 60 injured, according to the UP government. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Jabalpur:

Seven Andhra Pradesh pilgrims returning from Maha Kumbh died and two other sustained injuries after a mini-bus in which they were travelling collided with a truck in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district on Tuesday, a police official said.

The accident occurred on a 4-lane highway near a Canal area of Mohla Bargi village under Sihora police station limits in the district on Tuesday. The pilgrims travelling in the mini-bus are residents of Andhra Pradesh and were returning to their home after attending Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj.

The truck was going from Jabalpur to Katni when the driver lost his control and moved into the opposite lane and collided with the mini-bus. Upon receiving the information about the incident, the police reached the spot, removed the truck with the help of a crane and then rescued the passengers in the mini-bus, the police added.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Suryakant Sharma told ANI, “A tempo traveller (mini bus) carrying passengers, residents of Andhra Pradesh, was returning from Prayagraj and a truck was going from Jabalpur to Katni. The truck got uncontrolled and veered into the opposite lane near Canal area of Mohla Bargi village under Sihora police station limits and collided with the mini bus. Seven people in the mini-bus died while two others sustained injuries who were referred for medical treatment in the accident.”

The truck was carrying some sort of marble powder. The truck was separated with the help of a crane. The injured were admitted to the hospital and those who died were sent for the post mortem, the officer said.

“An action has been initiated to register a case into the matter and the victims’ families have been contacted. Upon their arrival, the bodies will be handed over to them after the post mortem…It is a 4-lane highway with open space in the middle, but due to the absence of a divider, the truck crossed into the opposite lane, leading to the accident,” he added.

Additionally, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also expressed grief over the incident and said he ordered an investigation into the matter. He further added that the state government is making arrangements for the departure of the families to their home state.

“I came to know that a mini bus going towards Andhra Pradesh from Prayagraj met with an accident near Sihora in Jabalpur and seven people died in the accident. I pray to Baba Mahakal to provide strength to the family and make the departed souls rest in peace. I have ordered an inquiry into the matter and we are making arrangements for the respective families to return to Andhra Pradesh,”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Muzaffarpur:

Five Nepal nationals, who were returning from Prayagraj after attending the Maha Kumbh, died as a car they were in hit a divider and overturned in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Saturday. The incident took place on the Madhubani four-lane bypass when the speeding SUV tried to avoid crashing into a biker performing stunts.

The impact of the car hitting the divider was so severe that the Scorpio SUV flipped over five times.

Visuals of the incident show the car completely crushed and the windows shattered. As the car flipped, one of its tyres broke and entered the vehicle. Several blood stains can also be seen on the SUV.

There were nine people in the car – out of which five died on the spot and four others have been critically injured, officials said. The victims have been identified as Archana Thakur, Indu Devi, Mantarni Devi, Bal Krishna Jha, and the driver. The injured are Manohar Thakur, Srishti Thakur, Kamni Jha, and Devtaran Devi. 

All of them are from Nepal, officials added.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with distressing screams echoing from the crash site. According to them, some men were performing students on a bike on the four-lane. The car, which was speeding, could have hit one of the bikers. However, to avoid it, the driver turned the wheel and hit the divider.

As the car flipped, the bikers fled the scene.

Police said that the airbags of the vehicle did not open, causing further damage to the victims and the car.

“Five persons lost their lives on the spot while we have rescued four others from the vehicle. Locals helped in removing the injured from the car and sent them to a nearby hospital. They have been taken to Shri Krishna Memorial Medical College (SKMCH) for treatment. Their condition is reported to be critical. We have informed the Nepalese authority about the accident. We are also trying to contact the family members of the victims,” a senior official said.

Prayagraj:

A police officer was suspended on Thursday after a video went viral showing him allegedly mixing ash into the food served at a Bhandara (community feast) for devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela here.

Action was taken against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Soraon, Brijesh Kumar Tiwari, after the video surfaced on social media, said DCP (Ganga Nagar) Kuldeep Singh Gunawat.

In the footage, a police officer is seen adding ash to the food being prepared over a stove.

A user posted the video on social media platform X tagging the DCP Ganga Nagar’s account and demanding strict action against the officer for this “shameful act.” In response, the official account of DCP Ganga Nagar replied: “Taking cognizance of the matter, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ganga Nagar) has suspended the Soraon SHO based on a report from ACP Soraon. Departmental proceedings are underway.” The video was also shared by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on social media, urging the public to take note of it.

“It is unfortunate that the good efforts of those who are making arrangements to provide food and water to those stranded at the Maha Kumbh are being scuttled due to political animosity. The public should take notice!” the former UP Chief Minister said.

With the ongoing Maha Kumbh, which has seen millions of pilgrims coming to Prayagraj, a number of individuals, groups, and organizations have set up community kitchens to offer free or affordable meals to the visiting devotees.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Lucknow:

The three-member judicial commission set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to find the reasons behind the Maha Kumbh stampede has a month to wrap up its probe but will try to expedite it, panel head Harsh Kumar said on Thursday.

Harsh Kumar, a retired judge, also told PTI that the commission members would soon visit Prayagraj.

Harsh Kumar and panel members ex-Director General of Police (DGP) VK Gupta and retired IAS officer DK Singh reached the office assigned to them here and began their work on Thursday, an official statement said.

“We have taken charge within hours of the announcement as the probe has to be taken up on priority,” Mr Kumar told PTI.

Asked about the timeline for the probe, he said, “We have a one-month timeline but all the same, we will try to expedite it.” He said the commission members will soon visit Prayagraj. However, he did not say when they would visit.

Asked if the three members will be probing separate aspects, Mr Kumar said, “We will discuss this amongst ourselves. Can’t go into detail right now.” At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh on Wednesday as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

According to police, the incident took place as the crowd jumped barricades, crushing those waiting on the other side.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prayagraj:

A day after 30 people died and 60 others sustained injuries in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, the state government has introduced strict measures to prevent further incidents. The administration has implemented five major changes, including declaring the entire fair area a No-Vehicle Zone.

The tragedy occurred on Wednesday as millions of pilgrims attempted to reach the waters for a sacred dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Kumbh Mela.

According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, the stampede was triggered by pilgrims pushing against barricades in an attempt to reach the holy waters.

Here are the 5 key changes:

Complete No-Vehicle Zone: Entry of all types of vehicles is strictly prohibited in the Maha Kumbh fair area.

VVIP Passes Canceled: No special passes will allow vehicle entry, eliminating any exceptions.

One-Way Routes Implemented: A one-way traffic system has been enforced to streamline the movement of devotees.

Vehicle Entry Restricted: Vehicles arriving from neighbouring districts of Prayagraj are being stopped at district borders to reduce congestion.

Strict Restrictions Until February 4: Entry of four-wheelers into the city is completely banned until this date to maintain order.

To further strengthen crowd management efforts, IAS officers Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Goswami have been directed to reach Prayagraj immediately. Both bureaucrats played a key role in successfully managing the 2019 Ardh Kumbh along with Vijay Kiran. During that event, Bhanu Goswami served as the District Magistrate and Vice Chairman of the Kumbh Mela Authority, while Ashish Goyal was the Commissioner of Allahabad, overseeing the management.

Additionally, five special secretary-rank officers with previous experience in handling large-scale events have been assigned to assist with Maha Kumbh operations. 

Chief Minister’s Response 

Following the stampede, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued multiple guidelines focusing on crowd control, traffic management, and inter-departmental coordination. The Chief Minister ordered a review of the Maha Kumbh arrangements by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP).

The ADG and the District Magistrate of Prayagraj have been directed to ensure a safe and smooth departure of all devotees from the city. 

In a late-night video conference, the Mr Adityanath addressed senior police officers and officials from multiple districts, including Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Basti, Jaunpur, and Rae Bareli, among others. 

Crowd Management Measures

With a large number of devotees present at railway stations across Prayagraj preparing to return home, Mr Adityanath instructed officials to coordinate closely with rail authorities. The Transport Corporation has been directed to deploy additional buses to accommodate the rush.

Holding areas have been set up at border points to manage crowd pressure within the fair area. Devotees will be allowed to proceed only when the situation permits. These areas will have adequate arrangements for food, drinking water, and uninterrupted electricity supply, the state government has assured. 

Increased patrolling and streamlined traffic flow have been mandated on major routes leading to Prayagraj, including those from Ayodhya, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, and Varanasi.

Judicial Commission Set Up

A three-member judicial commission has been appointed to investigate the causes of the stampede. The panel comprises Justice Harsh Kumar, former Director General VK Gupta, and retired IAS officer VK Singh.

In addition to the judicial probe, the Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of those who died. 

Image used for representational purpose only.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

The Centre on Wednesday (January 29, 2025) urged airlines to maintain “reasonable fares” for devotees making their way to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh. IndiGo said it has slashed down ticket prices by 30% to 50% on flights to and from the pilgrim city.

Follow Maha Kumbh LIVE updates here

Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu held a meeting with airline representatives “to review adequacy of air connectivity to Prayagraj from across the country while maintaining reasonable fares during the once in 144 years Maha Kumbh Mahotsav,” the Ministry posted on X.

Earlier this week, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad claimed that airlines had raised airfares for flights to Prayagraj by 200% to 700% and called this an “unfair and unethical” practice which was inconveniencing devotees.

Also read | Maha Kumbh 2025: VHP flags ‘exorbitant hike’ in fare for Prayagraj flights, seeks govt intervention

“We have reduced airfares on all routes to and from Prayagraj by 30-50%,” a spokesperson of IndiGo said.

Earlier this week, the Ministry said that airlines had also been asked to mount more flights and 132 flights were added to Prayagraj in the month of January, which would be followed by more flights in the months to come including Akasa adding 21 flights from Ahmedabad and Bengaluru as well as SpiceJet adding flight from Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur and Hyderabad.