The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night led to 18 deaths and left many injured. Among those who lost their lives were 9 women, 4 men, and 5 children. Most victims were from Bihar, with 9, followed by 8 from Delhi, and one from Haryana. This tragic event unfolded at around 10 PM near platforms 13 and 14. Thousands of devotees were gathering at the station, eager to board trains to the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela.
Today, we spoke with Sughan Lal Meena, a seasoned porter at the station who has worked there since 1981. He shared, “We extracted 15 bodies with my fellow porters and placed them in ambulances. In all my years of service, I've never witnessed such a crowd. The platform change caused chaos, with people climbing over each other. After seeing the bodies, I couldn’t eat.”
Source: aajtak
What Did the Porter Witness?
“Since 1981 I’ve worked as a porter, and have never seen a crowd like this. The Prayagraj special train was supposed to leave from platform 12, but it was suddenly moved to platform 16. As people waiting on platform 12 and outside rushed to platform 16, chaos ensued. People collided, and many fell on the escalators and stairs.”
He continued, “Many porters tried to control the crowd. We managed to recover at least 15 bodies and placed them into ambulances. Shoes and clothes were scattered all over the platform. We called the police and fire department, and 3-4 ambulances arrived to transport the injured to hospitals.”
The Stampede Caused by Platform Change
According to Meena, the railway administration suddenly changed the train’s platform, causing panic among travelers. As everyone rushed simultaneously, the crowd became uncontrollable. “People climbed over each other. Many fell and were crushed to death,” he recalled. After witnessing such a tragic scene, Meena couldn’t bring himself to eat.
Another eyewitness, Ravi, recounted that the stampede occurred around 9:30 PM. As people on platform 13 saw trains on platforms 14 and 15, they moved towards them. Although the platforms weren’t changed, the sheer volume of people was uncontrollable.
What Did the Eyewitness Say?
An eyewitness described the horrifying scene, stating that the crowd was entirely unmanageable. Thousands gathered on footbridges and platforms, unprepared for such numbers. Even during festivals, they had never encountered such a crowd at the station before. Despite the presence of officials and the NDRF, the overwhelming crowd became unmanageable. Thousands had come to catch trains to Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela bathing ritual. Platforms 14 and 15 became chaotic, with pushing, shoving, and panic ensuing. Many fell from foot overbridges, while others stepped in front of trains. The railway administration and security forces struggled to restore order. Families accused the rescue operation of starting too late, leading to lost lives.
Ajit mentioned that the announcement error led the 10-15,000 strong crowd to disperse chaotically, resulting in 18 deaths, numerous injuries, and several people fainting. After the tragedy, it was the porters and those present who assisted, carrying people to safety. Administrative presence was minimal.
Delhi’s Deputy Governor Met the Injured
Following the tragedy, Delhi’s Deputy Governor VK Saxena visited LNJP Hospital to meet the injured and instructed the acceleration of relief efforts. On social media, he expressed condolences and directed Delhi’s Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner to control the situation on-site. Delhi’s Acting Chief Minister Atishi pledged comprehensive assistance for affected families and instructed that such incidents should not recur.
