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Deadly Crush at New Delhi Railway Station Claims Lives of 18
By Abhinav Goel and Dilnawaz Pasha, BBC Hindi, Delhi
Tragedy Strikes Amidst Crowded Platforms
On Sunday morning, the New Delhi Railway Station, a hub of activity in India’s capital, was teeming with passengers rushing to board their trains. However, the previous night had turned tragic as a deadly crowd surge occurred, reportedly due to overwhelming congestion. The incident resulted in the loss of at least 18 lives, with many others suffering injuries.
According to authorities, two trains were delayed at the station while a third was stationed to depart for Prayagraj, where the grand Hindu festival, Kumbh Mela, is underway, leading to increasingly frustrated crowds pushing against one another.
An Indian Railways spokesperson stated the chaos began when "a passenger slipped and fell on the stairs." Critics of the government have highlighted the perceived lack of adequate crowd management strategies by Indian Railways at the station.
An investigation is currently underway, and officials have announced plans to provide compensation for the victims’ families. Regarding security and safety measures at the station, Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Northern Railway, requested patience until the investigation concludes.
Recurring Issues with Overcrowding during Festivities
Incidents like this are not uncommon in India, especially during festivals and religious gatherings where crowd control becomes a significant challenge. Just last month, a similar surge at Kumbh Mela led to the heartbreaking deaths of 30 individuals.
The overcrowding at railway stations is expected, given that trains are generally the most affordable option for long-distance travel in the country, often resulting in passenger numbers vastly exceeding the trains’ capacities.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Harrowing Picture
Victims’ families have been sharing their heartbreaking stories of the incident, expressing anger towards the authorities and the apparent lack of timely responses from officials. Eyewitnesses recounted that the chaotic crush was not confined to a single location, affecting the overhead bridge, staircases, and platforms alike.
Bipin Jha, who awaited his wife Mamta’s arrival, tragically lost her during the chaos. "I met her on the platform, and as we walked across the footbridge, she became trapped in the crush. I watched her die before my eyes—I will carry the weight of not saving her forever," he lamented.
Another passenger, Seema, shared her terrifying experience: "We were on the stairs when a powerful surge from behind knocked us down. We fell, becoming trapped under bodies. I could barely breathe."
Usha Devi, traveling to Bihar for a family wedding, described the pandemonium that ensued upon reaching the platform: “People were collapsing everywhere amidst scattered belongings and food items. I felt faint; the crowd was so thick we couldn’t board our train."
Authorities’ Response to the Tragedy
Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi was a casualty of the crush, remarked, "The crowd was uncontrollable. I witnessed bodies piling up as the situation spiraled out of control," while waiting outside the mortuary at Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College. He pointed out that assistance arrived too slowly and he implored officers to intervene.
Numerous victims were transported to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in New Delhi, where police and paramilitary forces were present, and a help desk was established for families. Journalists were restricted from entering the hospital on the day of the tragedy.
Relatives voiced their frustrations outside, with some claiming inadequate facilities within the hospital. "Multiple patients were crammed into a single bed," said Shobha, the sister-in-law of deceased Shilam Devi. Hospital representatives did not respond to requests for comments from the media.
At Lady Hardinge Hospital, distraught family members were seen completing paperwork to receive the body of 7-year-old Riya. Her uncle, Vivek, expressed his heartbreak, stating, "No child deserves to die this way."
Summary
The appalling incident at New Delhi Railway Station highlights the pressing need for improved crowd control measures during peak travel times, especially during significant events. As the investigation unfolds, many await answers regarding the lack of preventative strategies that could have potentially spared lives during this tragic crush.
