A devastating incident occurred late Saturday night at the New Delhi railway station, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals and many injured, predominantly women and children. The chaos erupted as large crowds attempted to board special trains heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Political leaders have expressed their outrage and condolences in the wake of the tragedy. The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi characterized the incident as “extremely sad” and “distressing,” emphasizing the need for accountability within the Indian railway system. He criticized the government for its “negligence and failure” and also called for improved arrangements to accommodate the influx of devotees traveling to Prayagraj.
“Given the large number of devotees heading to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station. The government and administration must ensure that no one loses their life due to mismanagement and negligence,” Rahul Gandhi stated in a post on social media platform X.
Mayawati, the Chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, also condemned the incident, attributing it to the “grave negligence” of the railway authorities. She called for stringent action against those responsible for the tragedy and extended her condolences to the victims and their families.
“Due to the grave negligence of the railway, amidst the crowd that gathered at New Delhi Railway Station to go to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, there was a stampede in which many people were killed and injured, an event that is extremely tragic. My deepest condolences to the victims. The government should take action against those responsible and also provide full assistance to the victims,” Mayawati remarked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took to social media to criticize Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, suggesting that his “train of conscience left the station long ago.” In her posts, she questioned how many more tragedies would need to occur before accountability is demanded from those in charge.
“How many derailments, accidents, stampedes, lives lost, passenger fare raised, passengers having to travel in an inhuman way will it take to become the right time for seeking accountability?” Chaturvedi asked, highlighting the ongoing issues within the railway system.
The stampede has raised serious concerns about the preparedness of the railway authorities to handle large crowds, especially during significant events like the Maha Kumbh Mela, which attracts millions of devotees from across the country. The lack of effective crowd control measures and timely communication regarding train schedules has been called into question, prompting demands for a thorough investigation into the incident.
As the nation mourns the loss of life, the focus now shifts to ensuring that such tragedies do not recur in the future. Families of the victims are seeking justice and accountability, while the government faces mounting pressure to improve safety measures and crowd management protocols at railway stations, particularly during peak travel times.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities present in large-scale public gatherings and the critical need for effective planning and management to safeguard the lives of citizens. As investigations continue, the hope remains that lessons will be learned to prevent further loss of life in similar circumstances.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter pandemonium, citing a severe lack of crowd management as a significant factor contributing to the tragedy. Reports indicate that a last-minute change in train schedules and platform assignments exacerbated the situation, leading to the stampede.
This incident marks a grim chapter in the ongoing Maha Kumbh festivities, following a recent stampede at the mela itself that claimed the lives of at least 30 people just weeks prior.
