New Delhi stampede update

As India witnesses one of the greatest ongoing culture festivals, “the Maha Kumbh,” two stampede incidents, one at Prayagraj and the other at New Delhi railway station, have etched a black spot on the event. February 15, 2025, tragedy struck New Delhi railway station when 18 people lost their lives to the devastating stampede incident. The incident occurred as a result of thousands of devotees gathering to board trains to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh festivities, which are scheduled to end on 26 February. The incident left many injured and claimed the lives of 18 people, as per official records.True to life spoke to one of the eyewitnesses at New Delhi railway station who was present on platform 12 during the incident. The eyewitnesses described the horrific incident; he said, “There was an overwhelmingly large crowd of people at platforms 14 and 15. Few people fainted due to suffocation and overcrowding; others panicked and started pushing each other, and the situation escalated to a deadly stampede.”.After the incident, a two-member committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the stampede. The team reviewed the CCTV footage and interviewed the witness to formulate their report. The railway board announced 10 lakh compensation to the deceased’s family, 2.5 lakh for those who were seriously injured, and 1 lakh to the family of those victims who sustained minor injuries.PM Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwin Vaishnaw extended their condolences and assured government support to the victim’s family. Narendra Modi took to X and said, “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. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.”The two consecutive incidents during the Maha Kumbh festivities highlight the severe incompetence of Indian safety and management strategies. India lacks effective crowd management protocols. “As per CMI, every hour 1,500 general tickets were sold by railways, due to which the station got overcrowded and became uncontrollable. There was a stampede at platform no. 14 and near the escalator near platform no. 16,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP-Railway) said.The Congress, on the other hand, accused the government of hiding the true number of deaths in the stampede. The opposition highlighted the failure of the railway and the insensitivity of the government towards the people.According to the initial finding of a two-member committee, the cancellation of two trains bound for Prayagraj led to overcrowding and hence the stampede incident. Among the deceased, 14 were reported to be women, and two minors below the age of 10 also lost their lives to the tragic incident.As the investigation into the stampede continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder to work on the development of robust infrastructure and enhanced safety measures as well as improve the communication system to handle such an overwhelmed crowd and ensure timely communication. It is essential for the government to prioritize the safety of people and take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. Proper training and management should be imparted to the railway personnel to manage huge crowds.