At least 18 people died in a stampede at a railway station in India’s capital late Saturday as crowds surged to board trains heading to the ongoing Kumbh Mela, officials confirmed.
The Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, attracts millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj. The event has a history of deadly stampedes, including one last month that left at least 30 dead at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Saturday's tragedy unfolded at a station in New Delhi as passengers scrambled to catch special trains bound for Prayagraj. According to Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital, 15 victims were confirmed dead at the hospital, with the likely cause being hypoxia or blunt injuries. Eleven others were injured, most suffering orthopedic injuries. NDTV reported three additional deaths from another hospital.
Most of the deceased were women and children, eyewitnesses said. A railway porter, quoted by *The Times of India*, described the chaotic scene, stating that people fell on the escalator and stairs after a platform change for a special train.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a high-level inquiry into the incident and said additional trains were being arranged to ease congestion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the tragedy, saying his thoughts were with the victims' families and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. Delhi Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said disaster response teams had been deployed and hospitals were on high alert.
The Kumbh Mela, which runs for six weeks, has already seen around 500 million visitors since it began last month. The festival has been marred by several past disasters, including a 1954 tragedy in which over 400 people were killed in a single day, and another stampede in 2013 that claimed 36 lives.
The Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, attracts millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj. The event has a history of deadly stampedes, including one last month that left at least 30 dead at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
Saturday's tragedy unfolded at a station in New Delhi as passengers scrambled to catch special trains bound for Prayagraj. According to Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital, 15 victims were confirmed dead at the hospital, with the likely cause being hypoxia or blunt injuries. Eleven others were injured, most suffering orthopedic injuries. NDTV reported three additional deaths from another hospital.
Most of the deceased were women and children, eyewitnesses said. A railway porter, quoted by *The Times of India*, described the chaotic scene, stating that people fell on the escalator and stairs after a platform change for a special train.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a high-level inquiry into the incident and said additional trains were being arranged to ease congestion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the tragedy, saying his thoughts were with the victims' families and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. Delhi Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said disaster response teams had been deployed and hospitals were on high alert.
The Kumbh Mela, which runs for six weeks, has already seen around 500 million visitors since it began last month. The festival has been marred by several past disasters, including a 1954 tragedy in which over 400 people were killed in a single day, and another stampede in 2013 that claimed 36 lives.
