Janice R. Andrews
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, which claimed 18 lives on Saturday. In a heartfelt message on X, she extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
The incident occurred around 10 pm as thousands of devotees crowded the station en route to the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival in Prayagraj. Overwhelming footfall led to chaos, resulting in the deadly stampede. NDRF Commandant Daulat Ram Chaudhary confirmed the situation is now under control, with injured individuals evacuated and rescue operations completed.
DCP Railway KPS Malhotra noted that while authorities anticipated large crowds, the situation escalated rapidly. A two-member high-level committee has been formed by the Railway Board to investigate the cause of the stampede. Dilip Kumar, ED/IP of the Railway Board, assured that train operations have resumed normalcy, and affected passengers were accommodated on special trains.
This tragic incident highlights the need for improved crowd management during large-scale events. Authorities are urged to implement stricter safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
