New Delhi, February 16 – A tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night resulted in the death of 18 people and injuries to over a dozen others, as panic ensued among passengers attempting to board a train to Prayagraj for the ongoing Mahakumbh festival. Authorities confirmed the fatalities and stated that several injured individuals are receiving medical care.
According to railway officials, the incident occurred when passengers descending from a foot-over bridge lost balance and fell over one another, leading to a sudden rush on platforms 14 and 15. Chaos erupted as a large crowd gathered to board Prayagraj Express, which was stationed at platform 14, while another train, Jammu Sampark Kranti Express, was halted at platform 15. Amid the commotion, an erroneous platform change announcement reportedly added to the confusion, worsening the situation.
Eyewitnesses described passengers scrambling for safety, with some attempting to climb railings while others were trampled in the melee. Security personnel attempted to manage the crowd but were unable to contain the overwhelming rush. As order was restored, 18 people, including 11 women and five children, had lost their lives, while many others sustained injuries.
Rescue teams rushed the victims to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, where distraught families gathered to identify their loved ones. A grieving father searching for his missing son broke down upon recognizing a blue school bag among recovered belongings, realizing his 12-year-old child had perished in the tragedy.
The Railway Board has formed an inquiry committee to investigate the incident, comprising Principal Chief Commercial Manager Narsingh Dev and Principal Chief Security Commissioner Pankaj Gangwar. Authorities have begun collecting CCTV footage and announcement records to determine the sequence of events leading to the stampede.
The Indian Railways has announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for those critically injured, and ₹1 lakh for passengers with minor injuries. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has initiated a parallel investigation, focusing on potential lapses in crowd control measures and station management.
The tragedy has sparked strong reactions from political leaders, with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressing their condolences. PM Modi stated that authorities are actively working to assist those affected, while opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), criticized the government's handling of railway operations, citing negligence in crowd management.
By Sunday afternoon, the railway station remained crowded with passengers anxiously waiting for their trains. Railway staff worked overnight to clear the platform, which had been littered with discarded footwear, torn bags, and personal belongings left behind in the panic. Officials noted that most families chose to take their loved ones’ bodies home without a postmortem, though official confirmation on this remains pending.
