At least 18 people have died in a horrific crowd crush at a railway station in New Delhi as tens of thousands of people scrambled to board trains for the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest Hindu gathering. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has added to the growing concerns over crowd management at the ongoing festival, which is expected to draw millions of Hindu pilgrims to the city of Prayagraj in northern India.
According to local media, the tragedy occurred as surging crowds struggled to board trains heading to Prayagraj, where the Kumbh Mela is taking place. The festival, which takes place every 12 years, attracts millions of Hindu faithful from across the globe. This year’s event will conclude on February 26.
The death toll includes 10 women and three children, with authorities confirming that 15 fatalities occurred at Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi. Dr. Ritu Saxena, the hospital’s deputy medical superintendent, stated that most of the victims likely died from hypoxia, though some may have sustained blunt injuries. Eleven other people were injured, most of whom are said to be in stable condition with orthopedic injuries.
“I have been working as a porter since 1981, but I have never seen a crowd like this before,” said one railway worker, quoted by the Times of India. The porter described how the situation escalated when a platform for a special train to Prayagraj was unexpectedly moved, causing chaos as passengers collided and fell onto escalators and stairs.
The Indian Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has ordered a high-level inquiry into the cause of the accident. In response to the overwhelming crowds, additional special trains are being deployed to facilitate the movement of devotees. “We are working to clear the rush,” Vaishnaw said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, saying, “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 affected by this stampede.” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his grief, offering his thoughts to the victims’ families and praying for the recovery of the injured.
Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Governor of Delhi, stated that disaster management personnel had been deployed to the area and all hospitals were on standby to handle the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Kumbh Mela festival has a history of deadly crowd-related accidents. In 1954, more than 400 people were killed in a single day of the festival, making it one of the deadliest crowd disasters in history. A similar tragedy occurred in 2013 when 36 people died in a crush during the festival.
The recent disaster highlights the ongoing challenges of managing such massive gatherings, with authorities now under pressure to improve crowd control and prevent further fatalities.
