Nineteen people were reported dead in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening.
Officials from the fire department said distress calls about a stampede on platforms 14 and 15 were first received around 9:55 pm and four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The injured were taken to Delhi’s Lok Nayak Hospital, where a senior official told The Indian Express that 19 people had died. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a final list of the dead and injured would be compiled and issued later.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told The Indian Express that the “situation is under control.”
“Delhi police and RPF have reached and the injured have been taken to the hospital. Four special trains are being run to evacuate the sudden rush. The rush has reduced now. I am in the war room,” he said.
In an official statement, the Railways said, “An unprecedented rush situation developed today at approximately 9:30 pm at New Delhi Railway Station near platforms 13 and 14. Due to the sudden surge in passengers, some individuals fainted, which led to rumours of a stampede-like situation, causing panic among travellers. The situation was later brought under control by easing the congestion.”
“The fainted and injured passengers were immediately taken to nearby hospitals by the Railway Protection Force and Delhi Police,” it said, adding that a high-level inquiry has been ordered.
DCP, Railways, KPS Malhotra elaborated, “When Prayagraj Express was on platform number 14, many people had gathered… Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were delayed, and passengers of these trains were also present at platforms 12, 13 and 14. As per our information, 1,500 general tickets were sold, so the crowd became uncontrollable. There was a stampede-like situation at platform number 14 and near an escalator near platform number 1.”
