New Delhi |
A massive crowd at New Delhi Railway Station on Friday night led to a stampede, causing the death of 18 people, including 14 women and 5 children, while several others were seriously injured. The incident happened around 8:00 PM on platforms 14 and 15, which were packed with passengers traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
What Led to the Chaos?
The situation got worse when an announcement about a platform change caused panic among the already crowded passengers. People rushed to move between platforms, and in the confusion, some fell while crossing the footbridge, leading to a crush of people that trapped many underneath.
Immediate Rescue and Response
- Several rescue teams, Delhi Police, and railway officials rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control.
- More than a dozen injured passengers were taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital for emergency treatment.
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured a thorough investigation into the cause.
A Warning for Better Crowd Management
With millions of devotees traveling for the Maha Kumbh Mela, handling large crowds at railway stations has become a major challenge. This incident once again highlights the urgent need for better safety measures, improved crowd flow management, and stricter planning for high-footfall events.
Authorities have launched an inquiry to understand what went wrong and to prevent such tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, extra trains and stricter crowd control measures are being introduced to handle the ongoing rush of pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj.
As investigations continue, the big question remains—could this disaster have been avoided with better planning?
