New Delhi, 17 February 2025: Capital of India At New Delhi Railway Station A tragic stampede occurred on Saturday night, where At least 18 people were killed. and hundreds more were injured. Among the dead 9 women and 5 children The police have confirmed that he is there.
The accident occurred when thousands of pilgrims India's largest religious festival, the Maha Kumbh Mela To join Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) gathered at the station to board the train for the journey. Due to the huge crowd of passengers and the limited facilities at the station, the situation spiraled out of control and a stampede broke out within moments.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred due to overcrowding on platforms 14 and 15, which later turned into a stampede. The delay of two trains and confusion over the names of the trains "Prayagraj Special" and "Prayagraj Express" led to the passengers rushing to board.
Stampedes due to overcrowding at religious festivals and gatherings are not new in India, but there have been calls for authorities to take more effective measures to prevent such accidents.
This tragic incident has raised new questions about the safety of pilgrims participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela. The authorities must take more careful and effective steps to prevent such accidents in the future.
Cause of the accident: How did this tragic incident happen?
According to eyewitnesses, the New Delhi railway station On platforms 14 and 15 A large number of passengers had gathered. However, there was sudden chaos due to two important reasons:
- Train delays:
- Two trains, the "Prayagraj Special" and the "Prayagraj Express", were scheduled to run, but their schedules were changed indefinitely.
- Many passengers became confused about the correct train, so they quickly started changing platforms.
- Limited entry and exit routes:
- The station's narrow entrance and exit routes made it impossible to control the huge crowd.
- The pressure of the crowd increased so much that at one point people started pushing each other, resulting in a stampede.
- Lack of security measures:
- There have been allegations that the police and railway authorities have not taken adequate security measures.
- Any type on the platform Detention management or adequate police presence There was no, which could have helped with crowd control.
Condition of the injured and dead
So far in this accident 18 people died The news has been received and More than 100 people were injured.Many of the injured are in critical condition, and it is feared that the death toll may rise further.
Local hospital Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College The injured have been admitted. Doctors said that several injured passengers Broken bones and serious internal injuries Got it.
Administration's response and announcement of investigation
Right after the accident Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav expressed regret over this incident and High-level investigation orderedTo the families of the victims. Compensation of Rs 10 lakh each Indian Railways has announced to provide compensation to the injured. Separate compensation has also been announced for the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Expressing his condolences in a tweet, he said,
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took place at the New Delhi Railway Station. My condolences to the families of the deceased and my prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Central Government will provide all possible assistance."
Huge crowds and security challenges at the Maha Kumbh Mela
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering in India, where Approximately 40 to 50 million pilgrims participate.This fair is held every 12 years and it is The world's largest religious festival Recognized as.
The question arises, was Indian Railways prepared enough to handle such a huge crowd?
Experts say, "Indian Railways and security agencies should have adopted better planning"In the past, religious gatherings in India Stampede incident Many have complained that even though it happened, adequate measures were not taken.
Previous major incidents of stampede in India
Many people have lost their lives in stampedes at large gatherings in India in the past. Some of the notable incidents include:
- In 2013, 36 people were killed in a stampede at Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela.
- In 2005, 258 people died in a stampede at the Mandhardeva temple in Maharashtra.
- In 2015, 27 people were killed at a religious event in Rajasthan.
This time too, a tragic accident occurred at the Delhi Railway Station for the same reason, which brought to the fore the weaknesses of India's public transport and safety system.
Next steps and administrative initiatives
After this accident Indian Railways It has announced some new steps:
✅ Additional police will be deployed at each platform.
✅ Special traffic management plans will be in place during major religious festivals.
✅ CCTV monitoring and emergency exits will be increased.
✅ In the future, train schedules will be made more transparent and planned.
Conclusion
This incident happened at the New Delhi railway station. Tragic stampede accident It has raised major questions about the security arrangements for religious festivals and travel in India.
Where thousands of people travel for religious purposes every year, there is enough Without planning, safety measures and public awareness There is a possibility that such accidents will occur in the future.
This accident is only A sad and educational event not only for the families of the victims, but also for the entire country.If Indian authorities do not take urgent action, it will not be possible to prevent such accidents in the coming years.
🚨 Give your opinion: Do you think that Indian Railways and the administration have failed to take appropriate action? Let us know in the comments!
🔔 Follow our page to get new updates!
