Report suggests 79 pilgrims died in Kumbh Mela stampede, far exceeding official toll
IndependentFEB 8
India: New Delhi Station Stampede Kills at Least 18
Above: Passengers jostle with each other to board a train at the New Delhi Railway station on Feb. 16, 2025. Image copyright: Imtiyaz Khan/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
A deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday left at least 18 people dead, including women and children, and dozens injured. The victims were reportedly headed to the Kumbh Mela religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj district.
The incident occurred around 10:00 pm local time. Authorities claim confusion over platform changes between two similarly named trains — Prayagraj Express and Prayagraj Special — led to panic and overcrowding on platforms 12, 13, and 14.
Multiple delayed trains — including the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani — are reported to have contributed to the unprecedented crowd buildup, with thousands of passengers attempting to board trains simultaneously.
The Spin
Narrative A
This tragedy is a clear administrative failure, as proper arrangements should have been made given the expected surge of devotees. The central government, the state government, and the railway administration have totally failed to ensure proper crowd management or provide adequate security personnel to control the situation. This isn't a disaster; it's a cold-blooded murder, and the authorities are trying to cover up instead of taking responsibility.
Narrative B
The stampede was caused by unexpected delays and sudden crowd surges within 10 minutes. Railway authorities responded promptly by deploying special trains and implementing emergency measures to control the chaos. The situation is under control, and the passengers have been sent by special train. The guilty will be held accountable, but right now, the priority is to assist all those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident.
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