Late Saturday night, New Delhi Railway Station witnessed severe overcrowding as thousands of Maha Kumbh devotees gathered on platforms 13 and 14. The sudden influx of passengers caused widespread panic, resulting in at least 15 injuries and four women fainting due to suffocation.
The incident occurred around 10 PM when devotees arriving for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj attempted to board their trains. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with passengers struggling amidst the massive crowd, some carrying children on their shoulders and others burdened with luggage. The confusion was exacerbated by the delay of two special trains, leading to uncontrollable crowds on the platforms.
Delhi Fire Services responded promptly to an emergency call, dispatching four fire tenders to the site. Ambulances also arrived to assist the injured and provide medical attention to those affected by the severe overcrowding.
Despite initial reports and eyewitness accounts suggesting a stampede-like situation, authorities denied these claims. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, informed news agencies that although the crowd had become unmanageable due to the sale of approximately 1,500 general tickets, there was no stampede. Malhotra explained, “There was a stampede-like situation at platform no. 14 and near the escalator at platform no. 1.”
The exact cause of the chaos remains unclear, but the delayed trains have been cited as a potential contributing factor. Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing experiences as the situation spiraled out of control, leaving several individuals injured and lying on the platform.
Further investigations are ongoing to prevent similar incidents in the future.
