18 Killed In Stampede At New Delhi Railway Station

There were belongings everywhere-slippers , half-eaten food, and even a child's school bag. People had no time to pick up their things; they just ran for their lives

New Delhi: At least 18 people were killed in the overnight stampede at the packed New Delhi Railway Station, with a senior railway official saying on Sunday that the incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down from a footover bridge.

More than a dozen people were also injured in the stampede on Saturday night at the railway station which witnessed a surge of passengers waiting to board trains for Prayagraj -- where the Maha Kumbh is underway -- on platform number 14 and 15 of the station. Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay said that at the time of incident the Patna-bound Magadh Express was standing at platform number 14 and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express was stationed at platform number 15.

"Some people who were coming down from the footover bridge towards platform numbers 14 and 15 using stairs slipped and fell on others," he said, citing the cause of the stampede.

While some sources said delays in train departures and the sale of 1,500 general tickets every hour may have created a chaotic situation at the station, other sources indicated that wrong announcement about change of platforms may have created confusion that led to the stampede.

Railways have announced the names of two high administrative group officials, who will be part of the inquiry committee constituted to probe the stampede. Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Northern Railway are the members of the committee, the railways said. The committee, which has commenced it inquiry, gave orders to secure all video footage of the New Delhi Railway Station. The inquiry was ordered by the railways on Saturday after the stampede.

A compensation of Rs 10 lakh each has been announced by the railways for the next of kin of those killed in the stampede. Those seriously injured will get Rs 2.5 lakh and those with minor injuries 1 lakh, the railway said. At the railway station this afternoon, crowds could still be seen with passengers eagerly waiting for trains.

Railway staff worked through the night to clear the platforms where large number of shoes, torn bags and clothes were strewn around after the stampede.

A railway staffer, who had spent hours clearing the personal belongings of passengers caught in the stampede, described the scene as "one of the worst" he had witnessed.