The Press Trust of India reported that at least 18 people were killed, including 14 women, in a stampede in the Indian capital of New Delhi.
According to Atishi (who uses only one name), the caretaker chief Minister of Delhi, many of the victims were Hindus traveling to the Maha Kumbh Festival in Prayagraj, northern India.
The stampede occurred late Saturday night as thousands of people gathered at the New Delhi Railway Station to wait for a train. Authorities said the incident happened after passengers fell and slipped on each other while descending from a footbridge connecting train platforms.
Sheela Dev, who was in New Delhi at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital to retrieve her daughter-in-law’s body, claimed that an announcement regarding a shift of platforms confused passengers, which led to the stampede.
Nikhil Kumar said that the crowd was out of control, and no one was able to control it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “distress” over the stampede.
“My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones. I hope that those injured will recover quickly. The authorities are assisting those affected by the stampede,” he stated on X.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the railway minister, said an investigation had been ordered to determine what caused the stampede.
Last month, tens and millions of Hindus gathered in the sacred waters of the river to enjoy a six-week festival.
