Passenger Dies After Slipping on Stairs at New Delhi Railway Station: Northern Railway CPRO on Stampede

New Delhi: A tragic incident at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night led to the death of 18 passengers and injuries to many others. Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, stated that the stampede occurred when a passenger slipped on the stairs leading to platforms 14 and 15, causing a chain reaction where several others standing behind him lost balance and fell. This triggered panic, leading to a stampede in the overcrowded station.

The high-level committee investigating the incident is assessing the exact sequence of events. According to the CPRO, at the time of the accident, the Magadh Express bound for Patna was stationed at platform 14, while the Uttar Sampark Kranti Express heading to Jammu was at platform 15. The crowd pressure was immense due to the large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025.

Overcrowding and Delayed Trains Contributed to Chaos

Reports indicate that around 1,500 general tickets were sold within a short span, leading to an unprecedented rush. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as passengers struggled to board their trains. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, confirmed that overcrowding worsened due to the delayed departure of the Swatantrata Senani Express and the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, which further packed platforms 12, 13, and 14.

As the situation escalated, emergency services were called in. Railway police, along with rescue teams, evacuated the injured, transporting them to nearby hospitals. Authorities have assured that train operations remain unaffected, with no cancellations or platform changes.

Victims Identified

The deceased passengers have been identified as:

1. Aaha Devi, 79
2. Pinki Devi, 41
3. Sheela Devi, 50
4. Vyom, 25
5. Poonam Devi, 40
6. Lalita Devi, 35
7. Suruchi, 11
8. Krishna Devi, 40
9. Vijay Sah, 15
10. Neeraj, 12
11. Shanti Devi, 40
12. Puja Kumar, 8
13. Sangeeta Malik, 34
14. Poonam, 34
15. Mamta Jha, 40
16. Riya Singh, 7
17. Baby Kumari, 24
18. Manoj, 47

Railway Board Orders High-Level Probe

The Railway Board has formed a two-member high-level committee to investigate the tragedy and determine the underlying causes. Executive Director of Information & Publicity, Dilip Kumar, confirmed that the situation is now under control and that stranded passengers have been accommodated on special trains. He assured that regular train services continue without disruption.

Authorities have urged passengers to remain calm and follow safety protocols while navigating crowded railway stations. The findings of the investigation will be crucial in determining accountability and implementing measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.