In a tragic incident at New Delhi Railway Station, at least 15 people lost their lives and 10 others sustained injuries due to a crowd crush, as reported by local media. The chaos unfolded as a massive influx of travelers congregated at the station, coinciding with the Hindu religious festival, Kumbh Mela, drawing people from various regions.
Eyewitness accounts highlight the chaos
Eyewitnesses shared harrowing accounts of the scene, with one individual, Ruby Devi, describing the overwhelming crowd that prevented her from entering the station. She recounted a “stampede-like situation” as frustration and panic spread among the attendees. Reports suggest that the police attempted to manage the situation, but the sheer number of people quickly exceeded manageable levels.
Government response and medical confirmations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences via a post on X, stating that his thoughts are “with all those who have lost their loved ones.” Meanwhile, Dr. Ritu Saxena, the deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, confirmed to news agency AFP the death toll of 15 at her facility. Among the deceased, reports indicate that three were children and the majority were women.
Authorities have since reported that the situation is currently under control, alleviating concerns after initial speculation around the incident.
Initially, Indian Railways dismissed claims of a stampede as a “rumour,” but later acknowledged that an unspecified number of individuals had been injured and were transported to hospitals for treatment. This incident comes in the wake of another recent tragedy at the Kumbh Mela festival, which saw dozens lose their lives during a pre-dawn crush, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding crowd safety at large-scale events.