Watch: Horrific videos capture New Delhi railway station stampede that killed 18

The stampede, which unfolded around 9:55 pm on platforms 14 and 15, left at least 18 people dead and dozens injured

Horrific videos have surfaced, showing a massive crowd of passengers struggling to board an overcrowded train at the New Delhi Railway Station, moments before a deadly stampede claimed 18 lives, including three children, on Saturday evening.

According to the Chief Casualty Medical Officer at LNJP Hospital, the stampede, which unfolded around 9:55 pm on platforms 14 and 15, left at least 18 people dead and dozens injured, causing chaos at the station as a massive influx of passengers, primarily devotees on their way to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

According to eyewitnesses, the situation worsened rapidly due to delays in the Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, causing passengers to converge on the already crowded platforms.

Passengers begged for action, but Ashwini Vaishnav & the Railway Ministry did NOTHING!Now, another stampede at New Delhi Railway Station...lives at risk, chaos everywhere.How many more disasters before accountability? Or will this, too, be buried?#DelhiStempede pic.twitter.com/uhNZN6oAjI
Ravi Ranjan (@TuchIndia) February 15, 2025

Ved Gupta, a passenger who managed to escape unhurt, recounted the terrifying moments. “I was going to Prayagraj to take a holy dip. There was a huge crowd at platform number 14. We were two of us, and we somehow escaped unhurt. It was a very bad scene,” he said while interacting with PTI.

#WATCH | New Delhi Railway Station Stampede | Poonam Devi, a relative of a deceased, arrives at LNJP Hospital mortuary to receive the body of her relative, says, "There was suddenly an announcement that the train will be coming on platform 14. People started running, and there pic.twitter.com/IAJ5a3JrI1 ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2025

The Indian Railways, on Sunday, announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for individuals with minor injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the incident, stating, "Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones."

VIDEO | Visuals from platform number 12 and 13 after a stampede-like situation broke out at the New Delhi Railway station, triggering a chaos on platform number 14 and 15.(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz)#NewDelhi #NewDelhiRailwayStation pic.twitter.com/oxpSBcZt5v
Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 15, 2025

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level inquiry to determine the cause of the stampede. As per preliminary reports, the unexpected rush of passengers heading to the Maha Kumbh, combined with train delays, contributed to the chaos.

“An unprecedented rush situation developed today at about 10 pm in New Delhi railway station near platforms 13 & 14. Some of the passengers present there on the platforms fainted due to this sudden rush further leading to the rumours of stampede-like situation. This led to the spread of panic. The situation was later controlled by easing the rush situation. Northern Railways immediately ran four special trains to evacuate the unprecedented sudden rush. Now rush has been reduced. In the meanwhile, the fainted & injured passengers have been taken to nearby hospitals by RPF & Delhi Police. A high level inquiry has been ordered by the Railways on the unfortunate incident," the Ministry of Railways earlier said.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, currently underway in Prayagraj, has attracted over 500 million devotees as of February 14.