Slippers... Yes, these belong to him. Oh... he wore this jacket... Mother, where are you!... This bag is the one...
Gloves, scarves, handkerchiefs, dupattas, countless slippers, shoes, and sandals... After causing tears and grief, the chaotic crowd that dispersed left these remnants on the paths, stairs, escalators, and platforms of the New Delhi Railway Station.
These items, once owned and carried by someone as they embarked on their journey, now lay as remnants, but currently priceless in this context, as the grieving people search among these items for their loved ones who became victims of the stampede last night at New Delhi Railway Station. With 18 lives lost in the chaos and many seeking their missing relatives past midnight into the dawn.
Source: aajtak
Heart-Wrenching Narratives...
A family journeying from Delhi to Nawada was shattered. By Saturday evening, four family members remained, now only two. The stampede took Raj Kumar Manjhi's world apart, claiming his wife and daughter's lives. The railway released a list confirming their loss, marking the tragedy of Raj Kumar's world unraveling.
In despair, Raj Kumar ran frantically after the stampede, looking for his wife and children. The realization of his loss left Raj Kumar broken; tears stopped as there was no one left to console him, with his wife and child gone.
Son Survives, But Where?
Raj Kumar shared, 'Being from Nawada, Bihar, I was returning home with my family. Our train was scheduled at platform 7 around 10:15 pm. As we descended the stairs, a stampede started, separating us. I regained consciousness to find no family around. Later, I learned my wife and daughter passed away. My son is alive but untraceable for now. I got a call confirming his safety, suggesting he was pulled out of the crowd. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter's bodies were found.'
We Thought of Returning Home, But Then...
A short distance away, a woman cried inconsolably. She shared that they were heading to Prayagraj from Sangam Vihar, Delhi. Fear gripped them as they reached the station. The chaos escalated and thinking of retreating home turned futile when pandemonium broke out. Her sister-in-law accompanying them got separated in the crowd and was crushed. Despite calls to 'get up', her fate was sealed.
Source: aajtak
Crowd Swelled, Pushes Ensued, People Fell
Ravi recounted that the chaos unfolded around 9:30 pm. With people on platform 13 noticing trains on platforms 14 and 15, there was a surge. Although the train platforms never changed, the uncontrollable crowd pushed passengers into precarious situations as some fell onto train tracks, leading to instant fatalities.
Witnesses describe overcrowding on staircases leading to suffocation and trampling deaths. A distraught woman revealed her mother perished and another recounted her son's survival due to what she deemed a miracle.
In the Stampede, a Mother-in-Law was Lost
Pappu from Sonpur, Bihar, lost his mother-in-law. He shared that timely hospital care could have saved her. After the calamity, Pappu mourned the loss of his 50-year-old mother-in-law. Arriving at the platform at 4 pm intending to travel from Delhi to Danapur en route to Sonpur, the panic set in around 9 pm, leading to his devastating loss.
A victim recounting his mother's death noted they traveled as a group to Chapra, Bihar. Acknowledging his mother's fate, the doctor's confirmation was followed by a relative fainting, overwhelmed by sorrow. Eyewitnesses attribute overcrowding as the main reason behind the stampede, causing heartbreak and inhalation-related unconsciousness.
Administrative Mismanagement
Ajit stated the chaos was spurred by incorrect train announcements and platform changes causing pandemonium among the vast crowd, leading to 18 deaths and many injured or unconscious. Immediate help came from fellow porters and attendees lifting others in need. Administration was minimally visible amid this struggle.
Fleeing the Stampede by Jumping from the FOB
Witnesses shared observations as chaos engulfed those gathered at New Delhi Railway Station heading to Prayagraj. Situations worsened as hordes packed staircases, escalating out of control. Post-incident, footwear and clothing lay scattered, testimony to desperation amid the scramble to escape. In result, some jumped from the foot overbridge onto platform sheds, incurring severe injuries. Efforts to clear strewn belongings began post-haste as railway personnel attempted to restore order.
