New Delhi railway station stampede: 15 autopsy reports out

After the incident, 10 victims were sent to Lok Nayak Hospital, five were sent to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and three were sent to Lady Hardinge Medical College

Published on: Feb 22, 2025, 06:18:14 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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Postmortem reports of 15 victims from Saturday’s stampede at New Delhi Railway Station revealed that 12 died of “traumatic asphyxia,” two from “haemorrhagic shock” due to chest injuries, and one from “blunt surface impact” to the head and chest, officials familiar with the findings of the report said on Friday.

Security personnel stand guard outside the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on February 17. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo)

Late on Saturday night, 18 people were crushed to death when a stampede broke out at Platform 14 of the New Delhi Railway Station.

To be sure, HT had reported on February 19 that of the 18 people killed in the stampede, 15 died of “traumatic asphyxia” as the cause of death. Traumatic asphyxia is a medical term for severe suffocation.

The three people who did not die of suffocation were all killed from trampling with reports indicating fatal injuries to the lungs, heart, and head, according to the postmortem reports.

The report added that the cause of death in the case of two victims was due to “haemorrhagic shock and its complications as a result of injury over right lung and heart consequent upon blunt force impact to chest.”

In the third victim who did not die of suffocation, the case of death appeared to be “blunt force” injuries to their head and lungs – again suggesting that the victim was trampled.

After the incident, 10 victims were sent to Lok Nayak Hospital, five were sent to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and three were sent to Lady Hardinge Medical College. The postmortems were conducted between 2.30 am and 7 am last Sunday.

A two-member high-level investigative team has been established by the Ministry of Railways to look into the occurrence, and in an official communication, the committee has requested that the Delhi Police provide all postmortem findings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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