New Delhi: A tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night claimed 18 lives, including five children. Many others were injured in the chaos.
What Happened?
The stampede occurred around 9:55 pm on platforms 12, 13, and 14. Thousands of passengers rushed to board trains heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh. The crowd became uncontrollable, leading to people falling and being crushed. Security personnel struggled to manage the situation but were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.
Eyewitnesses reported that the station was overcrowded, and there were inadequate arrangements to handle the surge of passengers. Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of crowd management and the delay in emergency response.
Casualties and Injuries
Among the 18 dead were 11 women and four children. Two of the children were under the age of 10. Fifteen injured passengers are being treated at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. Doctors have stated that some of the injured are in critical condition.
Political Controversy
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena initially posted a message acknowledging the tragic deaths. However, he later edited his statement, removing references to deaths and calling the incident “unfortunate.”
Opposition parties, including AAP and Shiv Sena (UBT), accused him of downplaying the tragedy. AAP blamed the BJP-led Centre and Mr. Saxena for failing to ensure public safety.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi shared screenshots of Mr. Saxena’s original and edited tweets, highlighting the lack of coordination between authorities. Political leaders demanded accountability and better safety measures at railway stations.
Investigation Underway
Delhi Police have started an investigation. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and officials are analyzing public announcements made at the time of the incident. Initial reports suggest that overcrowding and mismanagement were key factors leading to the tragedy.
Authorities are under pressure to ensure such a disaster does not happen again. The Indian Railways has promised to reassess safety protocols and crowd control measures at major stations to prevent future incidents.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
Families of the victims have demanded justice and compensation. Protesters gathered outside the station, calling for better crowd control measures and stricter safety regulations.
Railway officials have assured that improvements will be made to prevent such incidents in the future. The government has also announced compensation for the victims’ families, but many believe stronger preventive measures are needed to avoid similar tragedies.
