Sun Feb 16 16:13:54 UTC 2025: ## New Delhi Railway Station Stampede Claims 18 Lives, Sparks Outrage Over Delayed Information
**New Delhi, February 16, 2025** – A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including four children and a septuagenarian woman, and injured 15 others. The incident, which occurred between 9:15 PM and 9:30 PM, was caused by a surge of passengers rushing to board the Prayagraj Express and a Kumbh Mela special train. Confusion over platform changes led to overcrowding and the ensuing tragedy.
The incident sparked widespread criticism of the Indian Railways’ handling of the aftermath. Initial reports from railway officials downplayed the severity of the situation, with one spokesperson initially dismissing reports of a stampede as rumors. While several Union Ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offered condolences on social media within hours of the incident, the Railways did not officially confirm the death toll until approximately 20 hours later.
The Railways Ministry finally acknowledged the stampede and the resulting casualties in a statement released at 6:45 PM on Sunday. They also announced ex gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each deceased and varying amounts for the injured.
A two-member high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest significant overcrowding on the platform, exceeding its capacity of 2,000-3,000 passengers. An excess of 2,600 unreserved tickets were sold on Saturday, contributing to the congestion.
In response to the tragedy, the Railways announced measures to improve crowd management, including assigning a new platform for trains to Prayagraj and deploying additional security personnel. They urged passengers to follow official announcements and avoid changing platforms based on hearsay. The investigation into the stampede is ongoing.
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