Kumbh Mela Rush Sparks Deadly Crush at New Delhi Station
A deadly crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening has left at least 15 people dead and 10 others injured, officials confirmed. The incident occurred as thousands of passengers crowded the station, many traveling to or from the Hindu religious festival, the Kumbh Mela.
Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, confirmed the casualties to BBC Hindi. Among the dead were three children and 10 women, according to Reuters.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as a “huge crowd” overwhelmed the station. Ruby Devi, a passenger, told BBC Hindi she was unable to enter the station due to the sheer number of people. Another witness said police struggled to manage the situation as the crowd grew uncontrollable.
Inside the station, two trains were delayed, while a third, bound for Prayagraj—the site of the Kumbh Mela—was preparing to depart. Dharmendra Singh, a passenger hoping to travel to Prayagraj, told India’s PTI news agency, “There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station. In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers.”
KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police, said the situation was “out of control for a brief spell of 10 to 15 minutes due to overcrowding.” Indian Railways initially dismissed reports of a stampede as a “rumour” but later confirmed that an undisclosed number of people had been injured and hospitalized.
The tragedy comes just weeks after a similar incident at the Kumbh Mela festival in northern India, where dozens were killed in a pre-dawn crush. The festival, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, attracts tens of millions of devotees.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying his thoughts were “with all those who have lost their loved ones.”
The incident has raised concerns about crowd management and safety measures at major transportation hubs during large-scale events, as authorities face mounting pressure to prevent such tragedies in the future.
A deadly crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening has left at least 15 people dead and 10 others injured, officials confirmed. The incident occurred as thousands of passengers crowded the station, many traveling to or from the Hindu religious festival, the Kumbh Mela.
Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, confirmed the casualties to BBC Hindi. Among the dead were three children and 10 women, according to Reuters.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as a “huge crowd” overwhelmed the station. Ruby Devi, a passenger, told BBC Hindi she was unable to enter the station due to the sheer number of people. Another witness said police struggled to manage the situation as the crowd grew uncontrollable.
Inside the station, two trains were delayed, while a third, bound for Prayagraj—the site of the Kumbh Mela—was preparing to depart. Dharmendra Singh, a passenger hoping to travel to Prayagraj, told India’s PTI news agency, “There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station. In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers.”
KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police, said the situation was “out of control for a brief spell of 10 to 15 minutes due to overcrowding.” Indian Railways initially dismissed reports of a stampede as a “rumour” but later confirmed that an undisclosed number of people had been injured and hospitalized.
The tragedy comes just weeks after a similar incident at the Kumbh Mela festival in northern India, where dozens were killed in a pre-dawn crush. The festival, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, attracts tens of millions of devotees.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying his thoughts were “with all those who have lost their loved ones.”
The incident has raised concerns about crowd management and safety measures at major transportation hubs during large-scale events, as authorities face mounting pressure to prevent such tragedies in the future.