16 killed in stampede at New Delhi railway station

Officials said the stampede took place because one staircase each of Platform 14 and 15 were blocked by railway officials to control the crowd

Updated on: Feb 16, 2025, 24:50:11 IST

By Jignasa Sinha, Ridhima Gupta, Karn Pratap Singh

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At least 16 people were killed and scores others injured in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday when thousands of people gathered to board three Prayagraj-bound trains to attend the Maha Kumbh, officials aware of the matter said.

A large crowd at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening. (HT Photo)

Railways officials said a crowd kept building up at platform number 14, from where the Prayagraj Express was set to depart. Two other Prayagraj-bound trains, the Swatantrata Senani Express and the Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani, which were set to leave from the station were delayed, which worsened the crowding.

“When Prayagraj Express was standing at platform number 14, a heavy crowd was present at the platform. Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were delayed and passenger of these trains were also present at platform no. 12, 13 and 14. That’s why the crowd became uncontrollable,” said KPS Malhotra, DCP (Railways), suggesting there were two stampedes: “one at platform number 14 and another close the escalator near platform number 16”.

Officials at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital (LNJP) Hospital confirmed at least 15 deaths at the facility.

“Among the people brought in, there are 15 dead, which includes two children, 11 women and two men,” said Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent and head of the emergency department at the Lok Nayak Hospital. A senior police officer said that one death was reported at the Lady Hardinge Hospital.

Officials said the stampede took place because one staircase each of Platform 14 and 15 were blocked by railway officials to control the crowd. However, as trains got delayed, more and more passengers got on the staircase. Officials said both the staircases were filled with people who were pushing each other to either move towards the train or towards the staircase. “This pushing led to many people falling and stampede. Others suffocated as the crowd kept swelling on the platform,” an official aware of the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday said there was an “unfortunate and tragic” incident of “loss of lives and injuries” due to “disorder and stampede” at the New Delhi railway station late in the evening. In a post on X, Saxena said he has directed the chief secretary and the Delhi Police commissioner to address the situation. “My deepest condolences to the families of victims of this tragedy,” the LG said, adding that he is constantly monitoring the situation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jignasa Sinha
Jignasa Sinha is a Special Correspondent at Hindustan Times in New Delhi. With more than six years of reporting experience, she covers crime and policing in the national capital. Her beats also include Delhi prisons, the Delhi Fire Services and Delhi courts, while she regularly reports on gender, labour and social justice. Over the course of her career, Jignasa has reported on major criminal investigations, international crime syndicates, high-profile cyber fraud cases, law-and-order developments, protests, disasters and public institutions. Her reporting combines breaking news with in-depth, long form, human interest stories that examine the human impact of public policy, policing and the criminal justice system. In addition to reporting for the newspaper, she contributes to the Hindustan Times website and app, and plays an active role in coordinating on-ground coverage of major developments and breaking news across Delhi. Before joining Hindustan Times, Jignasa worked at The Indian Express newspaper in New Delhi, where she spent five years covering crime, Delhi airport, courts and health. She began her journalism career as an intern at an AI magazine in Bengaluru while pursuing her postgraduate diploma in multimedia journalism at the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media.Read More
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
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karn Pratap Singh
Karn Pratap Singh has been writing on crime, policing, and issues of safety in Delhi for almost a decade. He covers high-intensity spot news, including terror strikes, serial blasts and security threats in the national capital.Read More

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