By Miracle Ogunde
About 18 people have been reported dead and at least 10 others injured as thousands of passengers rushed to board delayed trains on Saturday night at New Delhi Railway Station in India.
Officials reported that two trains had been delayed at the station, while a third, bound for Prayagraj, was waiting to depart.
According to a list released by officials, among the victims were four children and 10 women.
It was gathered that the tragedy unfolded as travellers, many of whom were returning from the ongoing Kumbh Mela religious festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, struggled to secure seats on overcrowded trains.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos.
Ruby Devi recounted that the crowd at the station was so massive that she was unable to enter the premises. Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi died in the crush, said the situation was “uncontrollable” as he attempted to board the Prayagraj Express.
Another traveller, Dharmendra Singh, told India’s PTI news agency that there were “far more people than I have ever seen at this station.” He added, “In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), attributed the crush to the train delays and the growing crowd at the station. “This happened due to a delay in two trains arriving and more people gathering at the station,” he stated.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a post on X, saying his thoughts were with all those who have lost their loved ones.
He tweeted, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.”
The incident has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who have blamed the government for failing to manage the surge in travellers.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India’s parliament, said on X, “Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station.”
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