Delhi Police Launch Probe Into Deadly Stampede at New Delhi Railway Station

New Delhi.

The Delhi Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the tragic stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, leaving 18 people dead, including three children. The probe team is analyzing CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine the exact cause of the chaos.

Authorities have initiated inquest proceedings and are informing the families of the victims. “Our teams are working to identify the primary cause of the stampede. We are collecting all available data, including CCTV footage and announcements made during the incident,” a senior police officer told PTI.

Possible Causes Under Investigation

The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a sudden surge in crowds, with thousands of passengers heading toward Prayagraj for the ongoing Kumbh Mela. The stampede reportedly broke out on platforms 14 and 15, where the Patna-bound Magadh Express and New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express were stationed.

According to Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Upadhyay, the tragedy unfolded when some passengers descending the foot-over bridge slipped on the stairs, causing a chain reaction as others fell on top of them.

Eyewitnesses and sources suggest that an announcement about a platform change might have contributed to the panic. A train originally scheduled to arrive at platform 12 was suddenly shifted to platform 16, causing confusion and a rush among passengers, many of whom were already in overcrowded waiting areas.

Additionally, sources claim that railway authorities were selling 1,500 general tickets every hour, and delays in train departures further aggravated the situation, creating a bottleneck on the platforms.

List of Victims

The deceased have been identified as:

• Asha Devi (79)
• Pinky Devi (41)
• Sheela Devi (50)
• Vyom (25)
• Poonam Devi (40)
• Lalita Devi (35)
• Suruchi (11)
• Krishna Devi (40)
• Vijay Sah (15)
• Neeraj (12)
• Shanti Devi (40)
• Pooja Kumari (8)
• Sangeeta Malik (34)
• Poonam (34)
• Mamta Jha (40)
• Riya Singh (7)
• Baby Kumari (24)
• Manoj (47)

Authorities Assure Strict Action

Delhi Police and railway officials have assured that those responsible for any lapses will be held accountable. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, and officials are monitoring passenger flow at the station to prevent further incidents.

Meanwhile, political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have expressed their condolences and called for a thorough inquiry into the tragedy.