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:

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:

A railway porter was killed during a shunting operation at Barauni Junction in Bihar’s Begusarai on Saturday, police said. The victim was identified as Amar Kumar Rao, a porter working at the station under the Sonpur Railway Division.

Mr Rao was killed while performing his duties on platform 5 of Barauni Junction, as the Lucknow-Barauni Express (No: 15204) arrived from Lucknow Junction. According to railway sources, the accident occurred when Rao was attempting to open the coupling of the train. The train unexpectedly reversed, trapping him between the carriages.

After the alarm was raised by onlookers, the train driver reportedly exited the train and fled the scene, failing to reverse the engine or take any action to prevent the accident. Mr Rao was crushed by the moving engine and died on the spot.

Visuals from the scene show Mr Rao trapped between two coaches while bystanders click photos on their mobile phones. 

An investigation has been launched by railway authorities into the incident. 

Delhi:

A goods train collided with cement slabs kept on the tracks in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli on Wednesday, making it the most recent incident in a spate of suspected attempts to derail trains.

The incident occurred in Raebareli’s Laxmanpur, where it is suspected that three slabs kept in a nearby field were pulled and brought on the track. However, no major accident was reported after the collision. 

The RPF Unchahar team is investigating the matter.

Over the past month, incidents where objects have been allegedly placed on rail tracks to hamper train operations have been reported from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Police arrested a man last week for allegedly trying to derail a train by placing iron rods on the railway track in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur district, while major accidents were averted after gas cylinders were placed on tracks in Kanpur.

At least 10 detonators were found on a railway track in an attempt to blow up the train carrying Army personnel in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district. Meanwhile, three wagons of a goods train derailed between Misrod and Mandideep stations near Bhopal.

Cement blocks were found on the tracks in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, while two persons were arrested for allegedly placing an iron rail piece on a railway track in Gujarat’s Botad district.

In most cases, the loco pilot’s alertness averted major accidents. As a result, RPF and GRP police have increased patrolling by doing foot patrolling on the railway tracks.

Jabalpur:

Two coaches of the Indore-Jabalpur Express train derailed on Saturday morning when it was approaching the Jabalpur station in Madhya Pradesh, railway officials said. No passenger was injured in the derailment that occurred around 5.40 am, they said.

Restoration work is underway and a committee has been formed to probe the incident, according to them.

#WATCH | Two coaches of Indore- Jabalpur Overnight Express derailed in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. No casualties/injuries reported.

More details awaited pic.twitter.com/A8y0nqoD0r

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2024

Jabalpur station falls under the West Central Railway (WCR) zone.

“Two coaches of the Indore-Jabalpur Superfast Express (22191) derailed when the train was approaching platform number 6 of the Jabalpur station,” an official said.

The derailed coaches were positioned just behind the engine, he said, adding that the derailment took place around 50 metres away from the platform.

Talking to PTI, Madhur Verma, senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of WCR’s Jabalpur Rail Division, “The train’s scheduled arrival time is 5.35 am. The derailment occurred at 5.38 am when the train was about to enter the Jabalpur station. The loco pilot immediately stopped the train and saved other coaches from getting dragged.” “Two coaches adjoining the engine got derailed, but fortunately, no passenger was injured in the incident,” he said.

The passengers got off the train and traffic on the adjoining tracks was stopped for around half an hour, Verma said.

“A multi-departmental inquiry committee has been constituted to carry out a probe,” he said.

There was no major impact on the railway traffic as only platform number six of the station was closed for operations, he said.

Harshit Shrivastava, chief public relations officer of the West Central Railway said, “The train was running at the dead-stop speed of 5 kmph when the incident occurred.” The cause behind the derailment will be known after a probe, he said, adding that railway traffic on the route was normal and efforts to re-rail the derailed coaches were on. 

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

Etawah:

A 35-year-old CRPF jawan was killed after being hit by a goods train in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, a police official said on Saturday.

The incident happened around 7 pm on Friday, when Jabar Singh of Ali Khurd village was returning home from his farm, Barthana Station House Officer Devendra Singh said.

According to police, Mr Singh worked in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and had come home on leave.

His body has been sent for postmortem, they added.

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

Two people died and 20 others were injured after about 18 coaches of a train bound for Mumbai derailed in Jharkhand early this morning.

The Howara-CSMT Express derailed near Badabamboo, around 80 km from Jamshedpur at around 3.45 am. Rescue teams were rushed to the site immediately after the derailment was notified and a rescue and relief operation is on, officials said. 

Senior Railways official Om Prakash Charan said that a goods train had also derailed nearby, but it was not yet clear whether the two accidents occurred concurrently.

Of the 18 coaches that derailed, 16 were passenger coaches, one power car and one pantry car, he said.

The injured were given first aid by the Railways’ medical team, officials said, adding that they have now been taken to Chakradharpur for better treatment.

The exact reason for the derailment is being ascertained, they said.

Buses and additional trains have been arranged for the affected passengers and the Indian Railways has also issued helpline numbers. 

Tatanagar: 06572290324

Chakradharpur: 06587 238072

Rourkela: 06612501072, 06612500244

Howrah: 9433357920, 03326382217

Ranchi: 0651-27-87115

Mumbai: 022-22694040

A 17-year-old teenager in the US has been accused of deliberately causing a train derailment to record it and post it on YouTube. According to court documents, the Nebraska teen allegedly caused the train to go off the tracks, recorded the incident, and shared the footage on YouTube, Metro reported.

The incident happened in April this year when the teen allegedly tampered with a rail switch, causing two locomotives and five fully loaded coal trains to veer off the tracks and crash into an empty coal car. He then alerted authorities to the derailment and asked the investigator who arrived what caused the crash. He told the investigator he was a train enthusiast and showed him the video he had shot of the derailment.

When authorities said they did not know the cause of the derailment, the boy said, ”Obviously a switch was flipped the wrong way.”

An investigator with BNSF Railway found that a padlock supposed to be attached to the switch was missing, indicating tampering. Three days later, a BNSF investigator obtained CCTV footage showing a 1996 Buick Park Avenue in the vicinity, with the same teenager walking towards the switch at the south end of the tracks. According to the affidavit, the teen was later recorded returning to his vehicle.

A video of the derailment was posted on a YouTube account believed to be linked to the teen, an investigator said. Authorities also discovered that a tripod had been set up near the accident site just four minutes before the train derailed. The derailment caused $350,000 in damages to BNSF Railway and the Omaha Public Power District, as per NBC News. 

The 17-year-old was charged in Lancaster County Juvenile Court on Wednesday, but prosecutors have requested that the case be moved to adult court. He faces two felony charges of criminal mischief in connection with a train derailment.

”My office will file a motion to transfer the case to adult court and it will be up to the juvenile court Judge to transfer the case or have it remain in juvenile court,” Lancaster County Attorney Patrick Condon told McClatchy News.

Amreli:

Two lions were severely injured after being hit by a passenger train in Gujarat, a distressing incident highlighting the dangers faced by wildlife near railway tracks. The incident took place between Hathigadh-Bhesan near Liliya in Amreli district.

The incident occurred during heavy rainfall when a passenger train collided with a nine-year-old lion, causing significant injuries. The train, Mahuva Surat Passenger, stopped for an hour following the collision.

The Forest Department swiftly responded to the scene, already in a state of alert due to frequent wildlife accidents along this stretch. The injured lion, critically wounded by the impact, was transferred to the care of wildlife specialists for treatment.

The train also hit and injured another lion later, sparking outrage among lion conservationists and locals, who have long advocated for measures to safeguard the region’s wildlife from such accidents.

Authorities are now under pressure to review and enhance safety measures along railway tracks passing through wildlife habitats, particularly during adverse weather conditions when visibility is impaired. The Forest Department has assured the public that both injured lions are receiving intensive medical care and monitoring their recovery closely.

New Delhi:

The Bengal train accident that took place this morning, heralded the return of a wrathful Opposition, fresh from its massively improved performance in the recently concluded general election. From former railway ministers Lalu Yadav and Mamata Banerjee to various leaders in the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, social media platforms have been full of angry accusations, demanding that the government take responsibility for the deaths of nine people and injuries to 50 others. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tried to stem the tide, saying this is “not the time for politics”.

Three coaches of Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed early this morning when a goods train slammed it from behind near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri. The casualties would have been higher had the parcel coach and the guard’s coach not been at the rear.

In the afternoon, Mr Vaishnaw reached the spot. “Rescue operation is over, our focus in now on restoration. This is not the time for politics,” he said, responding to questions on Opposition criticism.  

“This government is only interested in elections.. How to go for hacking… how to go for manipulation… They do not take care of amenities… bathrooms are dirty and there are dirty things in bedding… They do not take care of the railway staff,” said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shortly after.

Ms Banerjee handled the railway portfolio from 2009 to 2011 during the second term of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. She had also held the ministry for less than two years in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The first off the block, though, was Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Lalu Yadav, who handled the railway portfolio during the first term of the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. “Who is responsible for the continuous railway accidents in the country?”  read his post on X, formerly Twitter.

The Congress attack was spearheaded by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who accused the BJP-led government of indulging in “utter mismanagement of the Railway Ministry”.

“As a responsible Opposition, it is our bounden duty to underline how the Modi Govt has systematically converted the Rail Ministry into a platform of ‘Camera-driven’ self-promotion! Today’s tragedy is yet another reminder of this stark reality,” he said.

Congress’s Rahul Gandhi underscored the point, saying, “As a responsible Opposition, we will keep raising questions on this scary negligence and make the government accountable.”

“The safety and travel of passengers in Indian Railways is now becoming a matter of concern,” read a rough translation of a Hindi post from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

“The railway accidents that have happened in the last 10 years are the result of the central government’s negligence and mismanagement. We will continue to raise our voice against this,” senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda told reporters.

The official handle of the Congress responded with a list of the major train accidents over the last decade, with a break-up of the number of people killed and injured in each.

मोदी सरकार में हुए बड़े रेल हादसे

26 मई, 2014
गोरखधाम एक्सप्रेस
25 लोगों की मौत
50 से ज्यादा घायल

20 नवंबर, 2016
इंदौर-पटना एक्सप्रेस
150 लोगों की मौत
150 से ज्यादा लोग घायल

23 अगस्त, 2017
कैफियत एक्सप्रेस
70 लोग घायल

18 अगस्त, 2017
पुरी-हरिद्वार उत्कल एक्सप्रेस
23 लोगों…

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 17, 2024

Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party pointed out that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, then Union railway minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, had resigned taking responsibility for the Gasal train accident in 1999.

“But Ashwini Vaishnav in the Modi government, who had two major train accidents during his tenure, never once accepted the responsibility for the train accident… Railway account is only to promote Modi government by setting up selfie booth, not for safety of railway passengers,” the party posted on X.