NDLS Stampede: Special Maha Kumbh Train, Ticket Sale Surge Led To Stampede That Killed At Least 18, Says Report

An inquiry report into the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) stampede that occurred on Saturday night revealed that an announcement for a special train for Maha Kumbh devotees and a sudden surge in the sale of tickets to Prayagraj led to the tragic incident that killed at least 18 people, as per an Aaj Tak report.

Approximately 1,500 general tickets were being sold every hour for Prayagraj. On Saturday night, thousands of passengers were waiting on platforms 13 and 14. A train was scheduled for Prayagraj on platform 14, while Swatantrata Senani Express, which runs from New Delhi to Darbhanga, was to arrive on platform 13.

The passengers of both trains were present at the platforms. Due to a delay in the departure of Swatantrata Senani Express, its passengers remained on the platform.

The passengers for Prayagraj kept coming to the platform despite no room for them, which resulted in overcrowding, as per the report.

The inquiry report accessed by Aaj Tak says that at around 10 pm, an announcement was made saying that a special train to Prayagraj would depart from platform 16. After hearing the announcement, passengers on the platform started rushing towards platform 16.

The report mentions that passengers from platform 14, while crossing the platform through an overbridge, trampled over passengers who were sitting on the overbridge. During this, a person slipped and fell, which led to the stampede.

Aaj Tak quoted Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, confirming the incident by saying, "At the time of the incident, the Magadh Express heading to Patna was standing on platform 14, while the Jammu-bound Uttar Sampark Kranti was on platform 15. A passenger coming from 14 to 15 slipped and fell on the stairs, and many passengers standing behind him were hit. The stampede occurred due to this. This is being investigated by a high-level committee."

However, he also said that no train was cancelled and timings of trains were not changed. According to him, there was normal rush at the station.

Delhi Police, which is investigating the incident, has said that it will examine CCTV footage to ascertain what triggered the chaos that resulted in deaths.

According to reports, out of 18 victims that lost their lives in the tragic incident, nine were women, five were children, and four were men.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital.