A crush at New Delhi Railway Station has left round 18 folks useless and at the very least 10 injured.
1000’s of individuals reportedly crammed into the railway station on Saturday evening as they tried to board delayed trains.
4 of the victims had been kids, whereas 10 had been ladies, in keeping with a listing launched by officers.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned his ideas had been “with all those that have misplaced their family members” in a submit on X.
Crowd crushes are usually reported in India the place there may be frequent overcrowding at non secular occasions, festivals and public areas.
The incident comes weeks after 30 folks had been killed in a pre-dawn crush on the non secular pageant, Kumbh Mela, in northern India, the place tens of thousands and thousands of Hindus had gathered to wash in sacred river waters on one of many holy days of the six-week occasion.
In Delhi, witnesses instructed BBC Hindi {that a} “big crowd” had gathered on the station, by means of which many individuals had been travelling to and from the Kumbh Mela, which is being held in Prayagraj metropolis in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state. A whole bunch of individuals had been additionally ready for trains to different locations.
Based on officers, two trains had been delayed on the station, whereas a 3rd – heading to Prayagraj – was ready to depart.
Ruby Devi mentioned the group on the Indian capital’s foremost railway station had been so massive she was unable to get inside.
Umesh Giri, whose spouse Shilam Devi died within the crush, mentioned that the group was “uncontrollable” as he tried to board the Prayagraj Specific.
Dharmendra Singh, who was additionally travelling to Prayagraj, instructed India’s PTI information company that there have been” way more folks than I’ve ever seen at this station”.
“In entrance of me, six or seven ladies had been taken away on stretchers.
KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), mentioned that authorities had been investigating what led to the crush.
“This occurred as a consequence of a delay in two trains arriving and extra folks gathering on the station,” he mentioned.
Opposition leaders have criticised the federal government, accusing them of administrative failure.
“Contemplating the big variety of devotees going to Prayagraj, higher preparations ought to have been made on the station,” Rahul Gandhi, the chief of opposition in India’s parliament, posted on X.
