By The Sampadak Express
The Indian Railways has announced compensation for the victims of the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that occurred late on Saturday night. The families of the deceased will receive Rs 10 lakh each, while those who sustained serious injuries will be compensated with Rs 2.5 lakh. Those with minor injuries will be given Rs 1 lakh, the Railway Ministry confirmed.
At least 18 people lost their lives and more than a dozen others were injured when the stampede broke out on platforms 14 and 15. The chaos was triggered by a sudden increase in passenger numbers, as many were waiting to board trains heading to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival.
Delhi’s Acting Chief Minister Atishi reported that 15 people were brought dead to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. Among the fatalities, three were children. At least 15 others remain hospitalized for treatment. Authorities are working to identify all the victims, with many families still in shock.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on social media, offering condolences to the families of the deceased. “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery,” he said.
Eyewitnesses described a severe overcrowding situation, with passengers struggling to breathe due to suffocation and a surge in the crowd.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railway), platform number 14 was already packed when the Prayagraj Express arrived, adding to the chaos. In addition, delays to the Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express caused more passengers to crowd into platforms 12, 13, and 14. The station had sold over 1,500 general tickets every hour, worsening the overcrowding.
The stampede occurred around 9:55 pm, prompting an immediate response from rescue teams and the dispatch of fire tenders. The Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer confirmed that passengers were pushed by the crowd, leading to several injuries. These individuals were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for medical care.
One heartbroken victim recounted the tragic loss of his mother in the stampede. “We were traveling to Chhapra, Bihar, as a group, but my mother died in the chaos. People were pushing each other. The doctor confirmed her death,” he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also shared his sorrow, calling the incident “devastating” and offering condolences to the bereaved families. Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena, also expressed his grief, but later edited his post on social media, removing mentions of the casualties.
Many passengers shared their harrowing experiences, describing a scene of panic and confusion as the station became increasingly overcrowded with canceled and delayed trains. Dharmendra Singh, a passenger heading to Prayagraj, mentioned that the station was more crowded than he had ever seen, and several people had to be carried away on stretchers. Pramod Chaurasia, another passenger, described how he and others were stuck in the crowd, with some unable to board their trains despite having confirmed tickets.
In response to the situation, the Railway Board announced that four special trains had been arranged for passengers, with more trains under consideration to manage the growing crowds and alleviate the pressure on the station.
The Railway Ministry continues to investigate the causes of the tragedy and is taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
