Delhi Police have made a shocking revelation about the New Delhi Railway Station stampede. According to their findings, the chaos was triggered by two trains with similar names—both called ‘Prayagraj.’According to an India Today report, An announcement mistakenly stated that one of these trains would arrive at a different platform than originally designated. This confusion led to a rush of passengers, resulting in a deadly stampede that claimed 18 lives.
The police statement contradicts Northern Railways’ earlier claim that no platform changes occurred. Instead, railway officials suggested that the tragedy began when a passenger fell on the foot overbridge connecting Platforms 14 and 15, causing a chain reaction as others stumbled behind him.
Confusion and panic gripped passengers as they scrambled to catch their train. Those who couldn’t reach Platform 14 mistakenly believed it was arriving at Platform 16, triggering a frantic rush. With heavy luggage in tow, people desperately moved from one platform to another, creating a chaotic and overwhelming situation that ultimately led to the tragic stampede, police explained.
Adding to the chaos, four trains were scheduled to depart for Prayagraj that night. Three of them were delayed, causing an unprecedented surge of passengers across Platforms 12 to 16. The sheer volume of people, combined with last-minute announcements, turned the station into a pressure cooker of panic and confusion.
The Delhi Police’s statement came after the Northern Railways said no platforms were changed, and a passenger fell on the footover bridge between platforms 14 and 15, causing others behind him to stumble, leading to the tragic incident.
Northern Railway’s Reaction
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railways, addressed the tragic stampede, attributing it to a passenger slipping on the foot overbridge between Platforms 14 and 15. As he fell, others behind him lost balance, setting off a deadly chain reaction.
Dismissing claims of mismanagement, Upadhyay described the situation as a “normal rush” and clarified that no trains were canceled or rescheduled. He emphasized that additional special trains had been arranged to accommodate the growing number of Maha Kumbh devotees and that no platform changes had been made.
Reassuring passengers, he asserted that train operations remained smooth and under control, despite the overwhelming crowd at the station.
Horrific Stampede At New Delhi Railway Station
On Saturday, chaos unfolded at the New Delhi Railway Station as a sudden rush of passengers heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela turned deadly. In the tragic stampede, 18 people lost their lives, while dozens were left injured.
Among the victims were nine women, five children, and four men—each with their own story, dreams, and destinations. The oldest victim, a 79-year-old, had likely seen many pilgrimages in their lifetime, while the youngest, a seven-year-old girl, had barely begun her journey in life. The heartbreaking loss has left families shattered, as what was meant to be a spiritual journey ended in unimaginable tragedy.
