Indian officials said the accident occurred amid a surge in passengers waiting for the train to attend major Hindu religious festivals.
Ten women and three were crushed by crowds at a railway station in New Delhi, India’s capital, as thousands of Hindus were waiting to board the train to attend the annual Mahakam Mela Religion Festival. Among the children, at least 15 were killed.
The incident unfolded on two platforms at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night at around 8pm (14:30 GMT). Southeast of the capital.
Delhi’s prime minister Atisi told reporters that 15 people have died, while local news outlet NDTV reported the death toll was 18.
Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishno said four trains have been deployed to “evacuate” a sudden, unprecedented surge in travelers at the station, and an investigation has been ordered to find out what went wrong. I stated.
I ordered https://t.co/egaifp5onx with a high level inquiry
– Ashwini Vaishnaw (@ashwinivaishnaw) February 15, 2025
Video footage shared on social media by local news organizations showed people shaking as they tried to force their way into the packed train carriage.
“People were running across the platform, but there was a chaotic situation that led to people falling on each other,” a man who witnessed the event told India’s ANI News Agency.
The Times of India said witnesses reported a “surge in crowds.” This was caused by the delays on two trains, with unexpectedly numerous passengers waiting for the platform. “The situation has become out of control and some passengers are fainting amid a sudden surge,” the media outlet reported.
“This sparked rumors about the Stampede, leading to further panic,” it said.
Mahakam is the only largest milestone on the Hindu religion calendar, and officials said that around 500 million followers have already visited the festival since it began in January.
Crowds occur regularly at major religious festivals in India.
At least 30 people were killed in a crash last month when tens of millions of Hindus gathered in Mahakamb to bathe in the sacred river. The highlight of the six-week festival is a ritual bath at the point where Ganges and Yamuna meet the mythical Saraswati River.
At least 36 people were crushed in 2013. This is when the festival was last held in Prayagraj, more than 400 people died after being trampled or drowned in a day of the 1954 festival.
India’s railway system, the fourth largest train network in the world, has witnessed serious accidents over the past two years, including the 2023 collision killing at least 288 people.
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