'My Mother Died... There Was No One To Control The Crowd': Eyewitnesses Recall Horror As 18 Killed In New Delhi Railway Station Stampede (Videos)

New Delhi: At least 18 people lost their lives and over a dozen were injured in a stampede that erupted late Saturday night at New Delhi Railway Station. The tragedy unfolded as a massive crowd gathered on platforms 14 and 15, eager to board trains to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

The sudden rush, worsened by a surge in passengers and last-minute changes in train platforms, led to uncontrollable chaos. Among the deceased were at least three children, while authorities noted that two victims remain unidentified.

Eyewitness Recall Horror

Eyewitnesses described the horror that unfolded, with many losing their loved ones in the commotion. Pappu, a resident of Patna, tearfully recounted, "My mother died in the stampede. We were on our way home when everything spiraled out of control."

Another witness explained that an unexpected platform change triggered the disaster: "There was no one to control the crowd... It was announced that the train originally scheduled for platform 12 would arrive at platform 16. The crowd moved from both sides at once, and a stampede broke out. Some people were taken to the hospital, but many were crushed under the weight of the rushing crowd."

The sheer size of the crowd was unprecedented, according to those who frequent the station. One eyewitness stated, "I have never seen such a massive gathering at the railway station, not even during festivals. The authorities, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, were present, but once the crowd exceeded its limit, they couldn't control it."

A porter (coolie) at the station, who has been working there since 1981, described the chaos: "I have never seen anything like this. The Prayagraj Special train was initially set to depart from platform 12 but was shifted to platform 16. When people from platform 12 and those waiting outside rushed toward platform 16, they collided. Many fell on the escalator and stairs. We, the coolies, tried to stop the crowd. I personally helped carry 15 bodies to ambulances. There were shoes and clothes scattered all over the platform. The police and fire services arrived, but by then, the damage had already been done."

Ajit, a sergeant in the Indian Air Force and an eyewitness, described his efforts to calm the situation: "We have a tri-service office at the railway station. As I was leaving after duty, I saw the massive crowd. I tried making announcements, urging people not to gather in such large numbers, but no one listened. The administration was doing its best to prevent a mishap, but panic took over. I helped the injured with the assistance of a friend."

Authorities rushed emergency response teams, including medical personnel and police, to the site to manage the situation. The injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Investigations into the exact cause of the disaster are underway and security measures at the station have been tightened to prevent such incidents in the future.