At least 18 people, including 14 women, lost their lives in a stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday night, according to the Press Trust of India. Many of the victims were Hindu pilgrims traveling to the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, northern India, Delhi’s caretaker chief minister, Atishi, confirmed.
The chaos erupted when passengers slipped while descending from a footbridge, causing a deadly chain reaction in the overcrowded station. Witnesses described the panic, with some blaming an announcement about a last-minute platform change for the confusion. “The crowd went out of control and no one could control it,” said Nikhil Kumar, a shopkeeper who witnessed the tragedy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating on X, “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.” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The stampede comes just weeks after at least 30 people died at the Maha Kumbh festival in a similar tragedy, as millions of Hindu devotees gathered for the sacred event.
