At least 18 people lost their lives in a devastating crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station late Saturday night. The tragedy unfolded as passengers attempted to board trains bound for the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, held on the banks of Prayagraj. Overcrowding at the station resulted from delays to two train services and an influx of passengers, creating a perfect storm that led to the fatal incident.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, which spans over six weeks, attracts an astonishing 400 million attendees. The incident at the railway station is a grim reminder of the challenges posed by such massive gatherings. Just weeks ago, another crowd crush claimed dozens of lives at the festival itself.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating that he was "distressed" by the deaths. He assured that authorities are providing assistance to those affected.
"My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected." – Narendra Modi
Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's Union Minister of Railways, echoed similar sentiments and highlighted the efforts being made to manage the situation.
"My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident." – Ashwini Vaishnaw
Efforts to control the chaos involved using four trains to evacuate people from the overcrowded station. Despite these measures, the situation spiraled out of control for about 10 to 15 minutes, leading to the tragic loss of lives.
"The situation went out of control for a brief spell of 10 to 15 minutes." – KPS Malhotra
Delhi police reported that among the deceased were nine women and five children.
"18 people including 9 women and 5 children lost their lives in the stampede that occurred yesterday around 10 p.m. at New Delhi Railway station." – Delhi police
