New Delhi Railway Station Stampede: 18 Dead, 5 Suffocated Due to ‘Traumatic Asphyxia’

New Delhi Railway Station Stampede:  A tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night led to the death of 18 people. According to reports from RML Hospital, five victims died due to ‘Traumatic Asphyxia’ (suffocation). The deceased included one man and four women.

How Did the Stampede Happen?

The incident occurred when a huge crowd gathered at Platforms 14 and 15 as passengers were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela. Reports suggest that:

Some passengers slipped while coming down the stairs, causing a domino effect that led to the stampede.
Eyewitnesses claim that a last-minute platform change announcement created chaos, leading to panic and overcrowding.

Railway's Explanation on the Stampede

Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, stated that:

At the time of the accident, Magadh Express (Patna-bound) was at Platform 14 and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express (Jammu-bound) was at Platform 15.
A passenger slipped on the foot overbridge stairs, causing a chain reaction where many others fell over each other.
Train delays and excessive general ticket sales (1,500 tickets per hour) contributed to the overcrowding.

Investigation Underway

The railway authorities have formed a two-member committee to investigate the cause of the stampede. Key steps include:

Securing all CCTV footage from New Delhi Railway Station.
Identifying whether mismanagement or negligence played a role in the incident.
Most of the deceased were from Bihar and Delhi – 9 from Bihar, 8 from Delhi, and 1 from Haryana.
Compensation Announced for Victims
To support the victims' families, Indian Railways has announced financial compensation:

₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased.
₹2.5 lakh for the seriously injured.
₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

Leaders Express Condolences

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed their grief over the tragic incident. Following the incident, railway officials have ordered an investigation to prevent such occurrences in the future.