Death Toll In Stampede At New Delhi Railway Station Rises To 18, Including 14 Women
Mumbai: Tragedy struck at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night as a stampede claimed the lives of 18 people and left several others injured. The chaos erupted after a massive crowd gathered following the announcement of a special train bound for Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh festival.
18 people including 14 women lost their lives in the stampede that occurred yesterday around 10 PM at New Delhi Railway station: Delhi Police
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2025
Authorities reported that the incident occurred around 10 PM when a sudden surge of passengers rushed to board the special train. The overwhelming crowd led to panic, with several individuals fainting due to suffocation, which in turn fueled further commotion. Within 15-20 minutes, the situation escalated into a full-blown stampede, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
Among the victims were 14 women and three children, according to police officials. Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, stated that the casualties were primarily due to suffocation.
“They don’t have any open injuries. Most likely, they died from hypoxia or possibly blunt injuries, but that would only be confirmed after an autopsy,” she explained. Eleven others sustained injuries, mostly orthopaedic, and are in stable condition.
The stampede occurred in the wake of the ongoing Maha Kumbh, a six-week-long Hindu religious festival that has already witnessed an influx of nearly 500 million devotees since it commenced last month. The event is known for its massive gatherings and has a history of tragic stampedes. One of the deadliest incidents took place in 1954, when over 400 people lost their lives due to trampling or drowning in a single day.
In response to the latest disaster, railway and government authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede. Officials are also working to implement additional crowd-control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the nation mourns the loss of lives, questions regarding safety protocols at mass gatherings continue to surface. Authorities urge travelers to remain vigilant and follow security guidelines to ensure public safety amid the ongoing religious festivities.
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