New Delhi, 16 February 2025: A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station late Saturday night left 18 dead and more than a dozen injured, officials said, as police launched an investigation and began scanning CCTV footage to determine what led to the deadly chaos.
The stampede occurred around 9:55 p.m. on platforms 14 and 15, where a surge of passengers was waiting to board trains for Prayagraj, officials said.
Conflicting announcements about platform changes may have caused confusion, leading to the tragedy, according to official sources.
Delhi’s acting Chief Minister Atishi said 15 of the deceased were brought to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, including 14 women and five minors, two of them under 10. Nearly 15 others remain hospitalized.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as the crowd swelled. “We were traveling home to Chhapra, Bihar, but my mother died in the chaos,” said one survivor.
“People were pushing each other, and she got crushed.”
Another passenger, Dharmendra Singh, who was en route to Prayagraj, said, “The station was packed like never before. I saw six or seven women being carried away on stretchers.”
“Every hour, 1,500 general tickets were being sold, leading to severe overcrowding. The situation became uncontrollable,” a police officer said.
The Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Upadhyay, initially told PTI that passengers pushed each other, causing injuries. “Those injured were taken to hospitals for treatment,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident in a post on X, stating, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the incident “devastating” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena initially referred to the deaths in a post on X but later edited his message, removing references to casualties without explanation.
Authorities deployed rescue teams and four fire tenders to the station, Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg confirmed.
Besides, heavy police presence was ordered outside LNJP Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Railway Board’s Information and Publicity Executive Dilip Kumar acknowledged a “stampede-like situation” due to overcrowding.
He said four special trains had been arranged to ease congestion, with more being considered.