Stampede on New Delhi Railway Station Kills 18 in Rush for Maha Kumbh

A tragic accident occurred at New Delhi Railway Station on the night of February 15, 2025, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than a dozen. The stampede took place around 8:00 PM local time on platforms 14 and 15, when a huge crowd of travelers had assembled to board trains for Prayagraj to attend the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival. The dead comprised 14 women and three children.

Firstpost

Chain of Events That Led to the Stampede

The New Delhi Railway Station, one of the busiest in India, was overwhelmed by the numbers of pilgrims coming to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The festival, which began on January 13, 2025, has already witnessed over 500 million pilgrims taking the holy dip, shattering past records.
Reuters

Up to 9.2 million pilgrims performed the holy dip at Triveni Sangam, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and fabled Saraswati rivers converge, on February 14 alone.
NewsX

As the festival reached its final days, large numbers of pilgrims flocked in, causing jams in important transit points like the New Delhi Railway Station. Eye witnesses averred that the platforms were jam-packed to their capacity, and when additional trains arrived, the crowd got out of hand. The situation took a turn for the worse when an impromptu push of passengers attempted to board an already jam-packed train, resulting in panic and consequent stampede, which proved to be deadly.

Rapid Response and Rescue Operations

The police and medical services were rapidly deployed to the location after the incident. The injured were rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital for emergency treatment. Officials at the hospital testified that the victims had received injuries from fractures to severe trauma.
AP News

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared a formal inquiry to ascertain the precise reason for the stampede and identify the shortcomings in crowd control and safety measures. He reiterated the necessity of taking strong measures to avert such incidents in the future.

Reactions from Leaders and Officials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also severely distressed by the accident and conveyed his condolences to the grieving families of the dead and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He stated, "Distressed by the loss of lives in the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena, or simply Atishi, visited the region and the hospital where the victims were admitted. She assured the victims and their families that the Delhi government will extend all possible help to them. Atishi also called for a thorough evaluation of crowd management protocols at major transport hubs, especially during massive gatherings like the Maha Kumbh.

Background of Stampedes at Religious Festivals

India has the historical background of stampedes taking place during massive religious gatherings. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which is fete every 12 years, is one of the world's largest religious gatherings, with pilgrims numbering in millions. During the Kumbh Mela in 2013, there was a stampede at the Allahabad railway station that killed 42 persons.
Catholic News Agency

More recently, in January 2025, a stampede at the festival resulted in the deaths of around 30 to 50 individuals.
Reuters

These repeated tragedies underscore the difficulty of handling large crowds and protecting pilgrims at such events.

Measures for Crowd Management and Safety

Preparations for 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela saw officials implement several technology innovations to enhance crowd management and safety. The festival featured as the 'Digital Maha Kumbh' saw AI-based facial recognition systems, CCTV cameras, and crowd watching software implemented. These were designed to detect crowd surges and potential stampede situations, allowing intervention in time.
Reuters

Despite these measures, the New Delhi Railway Station stampede points to the need for constant review and improvement of safety protocols. Experts suggest that, as an addition to technological interventions, emphasis should be given to:

Infrastructure Upgrading: Expanding and enhancing facilities at transfer points to accommodate people in large numbers.
Public Information Campaigns: Informing travelers about measures of safety and crowd control in order to prevent panicky behaviors.
Staff Training: Providing railway along with security staff with required skill sets to manage large crowds in an effective way.
Collaborative Planning: Supporting effective coordination between various agencies being involved, for example, railways, local authority, as well as emergency departments.

Looking Ahead

As the Maha Kumbh Mela still has a way to go, i.e., till February 26, 2025, authorities are on high alert to prevent such accidents in the future. The New Delhi Railway Station disaster is a sad reminder that precautionary measures are an absolute necessity to be adhered to for such large crowds.