How porters became first line of rescue in New Delhi stn stampede

With no time to wait for official aid, porters carried victims on their shoulders, crossed railway tracks at New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS)

As the crowd swelled and word about the stampede spread at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), “coolies” (porters)—often overlooked as the backbone of the station—were among the first to respond, rushing to rescue unconscious passengers from the overcrowded platforms 14 and 15.

The stampede, triggered by an unprecedented rush of passengers boarding trains for Kumbh, saw people collapsing under pressure (HT Archive)

The stampede, triggered by an unprecedented rush of passengers boarding trains for Kumbh, saw people collapsing under pressure. With no time to wait for official aid, porters carried victims on their shoulders, crossed railway tracks, and used