Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station Claims 17 Lives

Seventeen people, including 10 women and three children, have tlost their lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. Besides, 10 others have sustained injuries in the incident.

In response to the chaos, officials have deployed extra security forces to manage the situation, and four fire engines have been dispatched to the scene. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that the situation is now under control.

Many trains have been cancelled after the accident. Trains are running only from platform 16.

The stampede erupted following an announcement about a platform change for a train, which was moved from platform 12 to platform 16. The crowd rushed across a footbridge to reach the new platform. Reports indicate that congestion on platforms 13 and 14, combined with delays of two trains heading to the Maha Kumbh, contributed to the overwhelming crowd and subsequent stampede.

CMS Ritu Saxena of Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) has reported that 17 people died due to the stampede.

PM Modi expresses grief

Prime Minister Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident on social media, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a swift recovery. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah also shared their condolences and emphasized the administration's commitment to assisting those affected.

Eyewitnesses describe chaotic scenes

Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene, with one one of them recalling the overwhelming crowd and the struggle to navigate through it.

An eyewitness Ajay Kumar said, "I came to the station at 9.15 in the night. When I came, there was a huge crowd at the railway station. My mother narrowly escaped death. We survived."

"There was a huge crowd. Entry was from the exit side and there was a huge crowd. After a train left, there was a stampede. An old lady fainted in front of us."

Another eyewitness Parvinder Kaur said, "We were on platform number 13. There was so much crowd that we could not even go inside. There was a huge crowd. We survived. There was a stampede like situation."

Kaur said, "The policemen were doing their job. But the crowd continued to swell."

An eyewitness named Preeti said, "The crowd was too much. Everyone was pushing each other. We were on platform number 13. Many people fell in front of us. They were being pushed. There was chaos."

Relief workers deployed: L-G

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, Vinay Kumar Saxena, has said that relief workers have been deployed, Posting on the social media platform X, he wrote, "A tragic accident has taken place due to chaos and stampede at New Delhi Railway Station."

"I have spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner and asked him to handle the situation. The Chief Secretary has been asked to deploy relief workers. Hospitals are ready for any emergency."

"Chied Secretary and Commissioner of Police have been asked to go to the spot and take stock of the situation. I am keeping an eye on the entire situation."

Prakash Kumar Pandey