A stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night due to a huge crowd of passengers going to Kumbh. So far 18 people have died in this tragic accident, while dozens are reported to be injured. The injured have been admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Lady Harding Medical College. The dead include 9 women, 4 men and 5 children.
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede: How did the accident happen?
According to eyewitnesses, a train going to Prayagraj was standing on platform number 14 on Saturday night, in which a huge crowd of passengers gathered to board. Meanwhile, Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani trains were running late, due to which the number of passengers on platforms 12, 13 and 14 was already high. When more people arrived to board the Prayagraj train, there was chaos around the escalator of platform 16 and platform 14-15.
The stampede happened on the stairs, not on the platform
An eyewitness, who lost his mother in this accident, said that the stampede did not happen on the platform, but on the stairs leading to the platform. He said, “We were going to Chhapra with our family. We were coming down the stairs and the platform looked normal. Then suddenly the crowd started increasing and everyone started coming down. My mother and some other women fell, but people kept moving forward, crushing them.”
Railways called the news of stampede a rumor
According to railway officials, there was an unusually high crowd to go to Prayagraj on Saturday due to Sunday being a holiday. He said that due to this, general tickets were also sold more. However, the CPRO (Chief Public Relations Officer) of Northern Railway called the news of stampede a rumor and said that this incident happened only due to increase in passenger numbers.
Reaction of senior leaders
Central leaders have expressed deep grief over the incident.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Deeply saddened by the death of people in the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My condolences to the bereaved families and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena wrote on Twitter, “This incident is extremely sad. My condolences to the families of the victims. The Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner have been instructed to monitor the relief work.”
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “This accident is heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families.”
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav ordered an inquiry into the incident and the Railway Board constituted a two-member high-level committee. Railways formed committee for investigation Railway Board’s Information and Publicity Executive Director Dilip Kumar said that the number of passengers at New Delhi Railway Station was much more than normal.
In view of this, the Railways also ran special trains. He said that there were reports of some passengers fainting, who were sent to the local hospital. Railway Chairman Satish Kumar and RPF DG reached the spot and reviewed the situation.
Comparison with 2013 Kumbh stampede
This is not the first time that a stampede has occurred during a big religious event like Kumbh. On 10 February 2013, there was a stampede at Prayagraj railway station in which 36 people died.
Railways arranged special trains
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva met the injured at LNJP hospital and said that the railways has arranged three special trains for Prayagraj to control the rush of passengers.
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