18 Dead in New Delhi Railway Station Stampede; High-Level Probe Ordered

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Feb 16, 2025: At least 18 people, including children, lost their lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station late Saturday evening. The chaos erupted on platforms 14 and 15, causing panic among the crowd.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity at the Railway Board, announced on Sunday that a two-member high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident and determine its cause.

"The situation is under control, and the passengers have been sent by special trains. Normal train operations have resumed," Kumar stated, adding that unusually high passenger volume prompted the railways to operate four additional special trains.

Authorities reported that overcrowding began as devotees traveling to Maha Kumbh gathered on platform 14, where the Prayagraj Express was stationed. Delays in the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani worsened the congestion, affecting platforms 12, 13, and 14.

Delhi Police have launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage and crowd management measures. “Our teams are informing victims’ families and analyzing footage to determine the sequence of events,” a police official said.

Caretaker Chief Minister Atishi visited LNJP Hospital to console the victims’ families and confirmed that AAP MLAs were on-site to assist. In a social media post, she expressed condolences and assured support for the injured.

The tragedy has raised concerns over crowd management at major railway stations, especially during peak travel periods.