Delhi Railway Station Stampede: Families Search for Missing Loved Ones as Death Toll Rises to 18

A devastating stampede at New Delhi Railway Station late Saturday night has claimed 18 lives, including five children, while leaving over a dozen injured. The incident, triggered by a massive rush of passengers heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela, unfolded on the foot-overbridges connecting platforms 14 and 15.

Eyewitnesses reported that some passengers slipped while descending, causing widespread panic and a deadly crush.

The Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has ordered an inquiry and established a two-member high-level committee to investigate potential lapses in crowd management and platform coordination.

What Led to the Stampede?

While an official report is awaited, initial findings suggest multiple contributing factors:

• Overcrowding due to Maha Kumbh-bound rush: Thousands of passengers, many without reserved tickets, gathered at the station.
• Massive sale of general tickets: Reports indicate that over 1,500 general tickets were being sold every hour, contributing to chaotic conditions.
• Confusing announcements: Some sources claim a wrong platform announcement led to a surge in passenger movement, adding to the disorder.
• Delayed train departures: Prolonged waiting times may have intensified the crowd pressure.

Government Response and Preventive Measures

In response to the tragedy, the Railway Ministry has announced immediate measures to prevent similar incidents:

• Special trains for Prayagraj will now depart exclusively from Platform 16 to ease congestion.
• Passengers heading to Prayagraj will be directed to enter through the Ajmeri Gate side of the station.
• Regular trains will continue to operate from all platforms as usual, but crowd dispersal strategies will be reinforced.
• Increased deployment of railway staff and security personnel to manage peak-hour passenger flow.

Officials emphasized that these steps aim to control crowd surges and improve safety measures at major railway stations.

Stampede Triggers Panic Across Uttar Pradesh

As the Maha Kumbh rush intensifies, multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states are experiencing heavy congestion:

• Prayagraj, Balsan, Bairhana, Sobtiabagh, and Darbhanga reported extreme traffic jams.
• A 15-minute commute in some areas is now taking up to three hours due to the influx of vehicles.
• Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, a key transit hub for Kumbh pilgrims, has witnessed a surge in arrivals in the past 24 hours.

Scenes of Grief: Families Desperately Search for Missing Relatives

In the aftermath of the tragedy, families of missing passengers were seen rushing from hospital to hospital, desperately searching for their loved ones. Many carried photos of missing relatives, pleading for information.

Outside LNJP Hospital, 45-year-old Bhola Sah, a resident of Bihar, displayed a photo of his wife, Meena, who has been untraceable since the incident.

“She was supposed to board a train to Prayagraj with her companions, but none of their phones are reachable. I’ve checked every hospital, but no one has given me an answer,” Sah said, holding back tears.

Some relatives were told that all bodies had been claimed, adding to their despair.

Porters Recall the Horror: “We Carried Bodies on Handcarts”

Amid the chaos, railway porters played a critical role in assisting with rescue operations.

Krishna Kumar Jogi, a porter at the station, recounted the horrifying moments of the stampede:

“People were packed so tightly that many suffocated before they could move. We saw at least 10-15 people collapse on the bridge itself. We used handcarts to carry bodies from platforms 14 and 15 to waiting ambulances,” he said.

Another eyewitness described seeing passengers trapped against metal railings, unable to escape the crush.

Massive Crowds Continue Despite Tragedy

Even as the death toll rises, passenger congestion at New Delhi Railway Station remains a challenge:

• General tickets continue to be issued at a rate of 1,500 per hour.
• Prayagraj-bound special trains are departing at double capacity, with passengers climbing onto trains through windows.
• Platform 16, now designated for Maha Kumbh-bound trains, remains overcrowded, despite additional security measures.

“Even after the tragedy, the rush hasn’t slowed down. We are doing our best, but the number of people is overwhelming,” said a Railway Protection Force (RPF) officer stationed at the platform.

Political Row Over Governor’s Edited Tweet on Stampede

A controversy erupted after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena altered a social media post about the tragedy.

• Original Post: Expressed condolences for the loss of lives in the stampede.
• Edited Post: Removed references to deaths and softened the language.

The sudden revision sparked outrage, with critics accusing the government of downplaying the scale of the disaster.

Heartbreaking Testimonies from Victims’ Families

Among the most devastating accounts is that of Opil Singh, who lost his 7-year-old daughter in the stampede.

“A nail pierced her head in the rush,” Singh said, still in shock.

He had planned to return home with his family after realizing the crowd was too dangerous but could not escape the deadly chaos.

What Happens Next?

With 18 confirmed dead and the injured still undergoing treatment, the two-member high-level committee will:

• Analyze crowd control failures and platform management lapses.
• Evaluate the impact of general ticket sales on passenger surges.
• Recommend structural improvements at major railway stations.

The final investigation report is expected in the coming weeks, and further measures will be implemented based on its findings.

Key Takeaways from the Delhi Railway Station Stampede

• 18 people killed, including five children; over a dozen injured.
• Triggered by overcrowding amid Maha Kumbh rush.
• Confusing platform announcements and general ticket sales may have worsened the situation.
• Union Railway Minister orders inquiry; two-member committee set up.
• Special trains for Prayagraj will now depart only from Platform 16.
• Families still searching for missing loved ones; hospitals remain crowded.
• Political row erupts over Lieutenant Governor’s altered social media post.

The Delhi railway station tragedy has raised serious concerns about crowd management, particularly during large-scale religious gatherings. As investigations continue, families of the victims await justice and accountability.

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