Three reactions after the stampede and deaths at Kumbh Mela.

I. Multiple news platforms: A stampede-like situation occurred at Kumbh…

II. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured.

III. BJP MP and former Union Minister in Parliament: There was a tragedy at the Maha Kumbh. An investigation is underway. We do smell a conspiracy there. When the entire investigation is complete, those behind the incident will have to hang their heads in shame.

Three reactions after the stampede and deaths at New Delhi Railway Station.

I. Government’s ‘favourite’ news agency, quoting Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railways: There is no stampede (at New Delhi Railway Station). It is only a rumour. Northern Railways was running two planned special trains (for Prayagraj).

II. BJP Party Spokesperson post on X: New Delhi railway station as of now (along with a 10 second video clip showing people walking normally in a station).

III. Railways Minister posts on X: Situation under control at New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Delhi Police and RPF reached. Injured taken to hospital. Special trains being run to evacuate sudden rush. 4 special trains to evacuate this unprecedented sudden rush at NDLS. The rush has now reduced.

The Union government’s standard operating procedure is to first underplay the tragedy. Next, subtly spread misinformation through friendly sections of the media. Then, try to deflect the blame. This pattern is visible even for rail accidents. Recall the Balasore tragedy in 2023, one of India’s deadliest train accidents, which led to 296 deaths. While on the subject of railways, here are ten points to ponder:

1. Nine out of ten non-suburban rail passengers travel in either second class or sleeper class. Only ONE out of ten non-suburban passengers travel in upper classes, including all air-conditioned classes.

2. Over the past decade, air-conditioned passenger capacity has grown by 190%, while second-class capacity has increased by only 15%.

3. Overcrowding in both trains and railway stations is a pitiful sight. Visuals shared on social media invariably show passengers sitting on the floor, squatting outside toilets or even hanging precariously from doors and windows.

4. The Union government’s pet vanity project is the Bullet Train. Consider this. Each kilometre of the Bullet Train costs approximately Rs 200 crore to construct. Compare that with a Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). A DFC transports commodities like sabzi, chawal. Cost of construction: Rs 25 crore per kilometre. What should be the priority?

5. No one is making this up! The Union government actually installed selfie booths in railway stations with Prime Minister Modi’s life-size models, at a cost of Rs 6 lakh each.

6. In the last ten years, there have been 678 consequential train accidents, resulting in 748 deaths. Out of the 217 consequential accidents between 2017-21, 75% (163) accidents were due to derailments.

7. The KAVACH safety system has been deployed on just 1500 route kilometre, accounting for only 2% of Indian Railways’ total 68,000 route kilometre.

8. 58,000 Group C vacancies were notified last year. Of these vacancies, three fourths were classified under the category – ‘safety’.

9. From 2017, the BJP government stopped the practice of a separate Railway Budget and subsumed it into the General Budget. In the Finance Minister’s hour-long Budget speech this year, the word Railways was mentioned just thrice, that too in relation to foreign goods. Not a word about railway safety.

10. The capital expenditure outlay for Railways in this year’s Budget has been pegged at Rs 2.6 lakh crore, the same as the Budget estimates of the earlier year. Funds should have been increased to bolster the safety and security of passengers.

The Indian Railways must strike a balance between commercial viability and social responsibility. As your columnist said in Parliament: “Railways constitute the infrastructure for the fundamental right of every Indian citizen to move safely from point A to point B.”

Securing the lives of 650 crore passengers is a full-time job. A part timer will never be able to keep track.

Additional research: Ayashman Dey

(Derek O’Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

New Delhi:

“Meri ladki ke kila ghus gaya (a nail pierced my daughter’s head),” said a man, whose 7-year-old daughter was among the 18 who died during a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station late on Saturday when surging crowds scrambled to catch trains to UP’s Prayagraj to visit Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering.

“14 number platform se neeche utare, lekin bheed dekh ke wapas aane lage, maine kaha bheed jyada hai, chalo ghar chalte hain, bachho ko leke nahi jaate, chote chote bacche hain kya karenge, sone ko bhi nahi hai (We got down from platform number 14, but seeing the crowd we started coming back. I said there is too much crowd, let’s go home, we should not take the children along, what will we do with the little ones. They don’t even have anything to sleep on,” Opil Singh, who had a confirmed ticket and was headed to Maha Kumbh with his family, told NDTV. Follow New Delhi Railway Station Stampede LIVE UPDATES here

The Kumbh Mela attracts tens of millions of devotees every 12 years to the city of Prayagraj. The rush at the train station in New Delhi appeared to break out Saturday as crowds struggled to board trains for the ongoing event, which will end on February 26.

“Jaise upar chadne lage, 6 jeena bache the, beech main meri beti phas gayi. Upar se jaise 5,000-6,000 hazaar aadmi neeche aane lage na toh log ek ke upar ek girte chale gaye, logon ko sambhalne ka mauka nahi mila. Meri ladki ke kila ghus gaya…khoon andar jam gaya, poora kala pad gaya (We started climbing up, there were just six more steps left when my daughter got stuck in the middle. Around 5,000-6,000 people began coming down from above. People started falling over each other. A nail pierced my daughter’s head,” said Mr Singh, a native of Unnao in UP, putting his finger to his head, enacting what happened, as words failed him.

Seven-year-old Riya enjoying herself at a wedding (File)

Northern Railway’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay said at the time of the incident, the Patna-bound Magadh Express was standing at platform number 14 and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express was stationed at platform number 15.

The stampede occurred on foot-overbridges connecting platforms 14 and 15 at New Delhi railway station when some passengers slipped while descending, causing panic and a deadly crush, a senior railway official said.

“Meri itni achhi beti thi (I had such a good daughter),” said the 35-year-old, fighting back tears. He then proceeded to show a picture of his daughter, Riya, with him on his mobile, the cracks and scratches visible on its glass screen.

The seven-year-old Riya

Asked if he received any help from the authorities, Mr Singh, who works as a labourer in Delhi, said there was just one policeman who kept blowing into his whistle.

“Beti jab mili na toh koi ambulance nahi thi, hum auto main leke bhage. Do coolie the, unhone 100, 100 rupaye madad kiya, meri jeb se mobile, paise sab nikal liye kisi ne (“When I found my daughter, there was no ambulance, we went in an auto. There were two coolies, they helped me with Rs 100 each. Someone took away my mobile and all the money from my pocket,” said Mr Singh.

As soon as the man reached the hospital, the doctors declared the girl dead on arrival.

“Aap thodi der pehle aaye hote (If only you could have come a little sooner),” Mr Singh said quoting what a doctor at the Kalawati Hospital told him.

When told that the Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families who have lost a loved one, Mr Singh said, “10 lakh se meri beti toh nahi aa sakti (Rs 10 lakh won’t bring back my daughter).”

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, 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:

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.

Maha Kumbh Stampede: Around 25-30 women have been admitted to the Central Hospital set up in Mela area.

Tirupati:

Sharing their account of tragic stampede in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati, eyewitnesses have recalled the horrific incident that killed at least six people. 

A woman who went to Tirupati with 20 of her family members said, “As soon as the Police officials opened the gate, the pilgrims rushed to purchase tokens. There was no such system for obtaining tokens earlier.”

While speaking to the reporters, she said, “A stampede occurred due to the heavy rush. Out of twenty members of my family, six have been injured. We joined the queue at 11 o’clock. While waiting in the queue, we were provided with milk and biscuits. However, a large number of male pilgrims rushed for tokens, causing injuries to several women, who were then shifted to the hospital.”

The husband of one of the woman who died in the stamped, shared his tragic account, stating that the stampede occurred when his wife and others were attempting to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, which led to her death.

He said, “While my wife and others were trying to obtain Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets, a stampede occurred, resulting in her death. I have informed our relatives and they are on their way…”

Six people died and many were injured after a stampede broke out near Vishnu Nivasam in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati on Wednesday evening, according to officials from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

The incident occurred near Vishnu Niwasam close to the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter, during the distribution of ‘darshan’ tokens.

As per the statement from the office of TTD Chairman BR Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the incident and will meet the families of the victims of the stampede today.

“It is an unfortunate event, 6 pilgrims lost their lives. So far, only one pilgrim has been identified, while the others are yet to be identified. N Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is very serious about the incident and has expressed dissatisfaction with the officials’ management during a teleconference. The Chief Minister will visit the families of the deceased tomorrow at 11:45 am. CM has warned that such incidents should not be repeated and is closely monitoring updates on the issue”, the statement said.

Telugu actor Allu Arjun on Sunday said that he was “deeply” concerned about the boy who was critically injured during the stampede at a Hyderabad theatre screening the film ‘Pushpa 2’ earlier this month. According to the actor, he cannot meet the boy, whose mother died in the stampede, due to legal proceedings.

“I remain deeply concerned about young Sri Tej, who is under constant medical care after the unfortunate incident. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, I have been advised not to visit him and his family at this time. My prayers remain with them and I remain committed to taking responsibility for addressing the medical and family needs,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

He also wished the boy a speedy recovery, adding that he looked forward to meeting him.

“I wish him a speedy recovery, and I look forward to meeting him and his family at the earliest,” he wrote.

The actor’s comment came two days after he was slammed online for “celebrating” his bail as pictures of his happy faces while meeting his friends and family went viral.

Allu Arjun was granted bail for four weeks on Saturday, a day after he spent the night in jail in connection with the ‘Pushpa 2’ screening stampede case. As the actor returned home, several top celebrities including Naga Chaitanya, Rana Daggubati, and Vijay Deverekonda met him at his Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad.

‘Pushpa 2’ screening stampede case 

On December 4, a stampede broke out at a theatre in Hyderabad screening ‘Pushpa 2’ when Allu Arjun made what the police called an “unscheduled” visit to the auditorium. A woman was killed and her son, Sri Tej, was injured. According to a private hospital where the boy is undergoing treatment, he is currently in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on ventilatory support with minimal requirements.

“He is hemodynamically stable and tolerating tube feedings. But he has an intermittent fever and is still in altered sensorium and has dystonic movements,” the hospital said.

Following the incident, the Hyderabad police had registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the management of the theatre, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s husband. According to the police, there was no intimation from the theatre management or the actor’s team that they would be visiting the theatre.

The theatre owner, general manager, and security manager were arrested on December 8.

New Delhi:

Days after a stampede at Mumbai’s Bandra Terminus railway station left 10 people injured, CCTV footage shows passengers jostling to board an unreserved train just moments before, causing complete chaos on the platform.

The stampede took place when large crowds tried to board the 22-coach unreserved Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express, which arrived from the railway yard around 2.44 am on Sunday. Such crowds are a common sight during the festive season.

The security footage, purportedly from a CCTV camera on the north end of platform no 1 at Bandra Terminus, showed many passengers losing their footing while trying to board the train. It also shows a crush of passengers trying to enter the train before it comes to a complete halt; some are seen trying to squeeze in through an emergency exit window. The visuals do not show the stampede.

The Western Railway is operating more than 130 festival special trains for various destinations, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals.

Platform ticket sales have been restricted at Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra Terminus, Borivali, Vasai Road, Vapi, Valsad, Udhna, and Surat stations in the Mumbai Division to reduce platform crowding and ensure smooth passenger movement.

The Northern Railways urged passengers to arrive at least an hour before their train’s scheduled departure to avoid last-minute congestion and ensure a smooth boarding process.

Mumbai/New Delhi:

Nine people were injured today in a stampede at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai when passengers tried to board the train heading toward Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

The condition of seven people is stable while two have suffered critical injuries. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the stampede occurred due to the festive rush before Diwali. 

Train number 22921 from Bandra to Gorakhpur came at platform number 1 of the station and a large number of passengers gathered at the platform to board the rush. Sources told NDTV that the train the weekly train the Gorakhpur was re-scheduled and had to depart at 5:10 am. But after it was re-scheduled the train arrived late at the platform. Around 3 am, a huge rush was seen at the platform and passengers tried to board the general compartment of the train which led to a stampede.

The Gorakhpur Express is an unreserved train and over 1,000 passengers had arrived to board the 22-bogey train. Some passengers tried to board the coaches while the train was still in motion because of which two passengers were injured.

Visuals showed blood on the floor and injured being taken on stretchers by Railway Police personnel and other passengers. 

A video showed a Railway cop taking an injured passenger on his shoulder. Another video showed two men lying on the floor with blood stains on their clothes. Two people came running with a stretcher and took the man out.  There were over 50 police personnel present at Platform 1 to manage the crowd.

In the background, five people were escorting an injured out of the station, with a large cloth acting as a stretcher. 

A man was also seen sitting on a bench, with his shirt torn off, and looked visibly in pain. 

The BMC said in an update said the situation is under control at the terminus and the injured have been taken to Bhabha Hospital.

A passenger suffered a spinal fracture and a few passengers had fractures in their leg. Meanwhile, two injured have been discharged from the hospital, sources said.