At least 18 people were killed in a stampede at a railway station in New Delhi on Saturday as massive crowds rushed to catch trains to the ongoing Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering.
The tragedy occurred as devotees scrambled to board trains bound for Prayagraj, where the six-week-long Hindu festival is taking place. The chaos reportedly began when the platform for a special train was suddenly changed, causing confusion and panic.
Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent at Lok Nayak Hospital, confirmed 15 deaths and said the victims likely succumbed to hypoxia or blunt injuries. Three additional fatalities were reported by another hospital, bringing the total to 18. Most of the deceased were women and children. Eleven others sustained injuries, though most are in stable condition.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and announced additional special trains to manage the surge in passengers. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the tragedy, offering condolences and prayers for the injured.
The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in Prayagraj, has a history of deadly crowd disasters. In 1954, more than 400 people died in a similar incident, and 36 were crushed to death in 2013. This year’s event has already drawn around 500 million devotees.
