NEW DELHI : The death toll from the Saturday night stampede at New Delhi Railway Station has risen to 18, including five children. The youngest victim was seven years old, while the oldest was 79. Women and children were particularly vulnerable, with 11 women losing their lives after being overwhelmed and trapped by the surging crowd. Most victims died due to asphyxia (suffocation), though some suffered fractures as well.
What unfolded:
In just two hours, 2,600 train tickets were sold.
Eight victims were from Delhi, nine from Bihar.
Witnesses said the crush occurred as the crowd was coming down a foot overbridge.
Most injuries were to the chest, abdomen, and lower limbs, with suffocation being the primary cause of death.
How it happened:
The Prayagraj Express was stationed at Platform 14, with a massive crowd present on the platforms, foot overbridge, escalators, and stairs. Passengers waiting to board Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express were also present on Platforms 12, 13, 14, and 15, as the trains were delayed.
Initial probe findings: The confusion arose due to multiple trains having “Prayagraj” in their names. When it was announced that Prayagraj Special would arrive at Platform 12, many passengers, unaware that Prayagraj Express was already at Platform 14, assumed their train was arriving at Platform 12, triggering panic. The situation worsened as three out of four Prayagraj-bound trains were delayed, leading to unanticipated overcrowding.
The crowd surged at the staircases, forcing some to jump onto platform roofs. Over 10 ambulances were rushed to the scene.
As two additional trains arrived, passengers waiting on the platforms departed for Prayagraj.
The deceased and injured included not just pilgrims headed to the Maha Kumbh but also others traveling to their hometowns.
What the probe reveals:
Preliminary investigations suggest the chaos was triggered by confusion over the Prayagraj Express and Prayagraj Special. Fearing they might miss their train, passengers rushed toward Platform 12, resulting in the deadly stampede.
A railway source revealed that Prayagraj Express was scheduled to arrive at Platform 14 but was delayed. Around 9:15 pm, Magadh Express (heading to Patna) was on the same platform, while Uttar Sampark Kranti (bound for Jammu) was on Platform 15.
“An announcement was made that a special train would leave from Platform 12. Another special train had already departed. Passengers started moving from Platform 14 to Platform 12, resulting in a stampede on the foot overbridge, leading to the tragic accident,” a source said.
The situation worsened as Platform 13, adjacent to Platform 14, was packed with passengers waiting for the Swatantrata Senani Express to Darbhanga. This train had been rescheduled to midnight, keeping the crowd on the platform for longer.
“The passengers of the two trains taken together led to massive overcrowding,” a senior official explained.
Adding to the congestion, railway authorities were issuing around 1,500 general tickets per hour for Prayagraj. By 10 pm, with the crowd swelling and space running out, railway officials announced a special train to Prayagraj.
“As soon as this announcement was made, there was a mad scramble to cross over to Platform 12 using the foot overbridge. There was a lot of jostling, and many squatting on the foot overbridge got trampled upon, setting off a stampede,” the official said.
Investigation underway:
Delhi Police has obtained the station’s CCTV footage for a thorough examination. Inquest proceedings were initiated on Saturday night, led by a DCP-rank officer. The fact-finding committee’s report and autopsy results are awaited. Further legal action, including an FIR, will follow based on the findings, said a senior police officer.
