Odisha CM, LoP Mourn Loss Of 18 Lives In Delhi Rly Station Stampede Amid Mahakumbh Rush

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Sunday mourned the loss of lives in the stampede at New Delhi railway station the previous evening.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives in the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the CM posted on X.

Naveen also expressed grief over the incident. “Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of so many lives in the stampede at #NewDelhi railway station. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries,” he wrote on X. 

Meanwhile, Delhi Police have launched an probe into the stampede that killed at least 18 people, including 11 women and four children aged 7, 8, 11 and 12 years. The CCTV footage are being analysed to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the chaos. “Our main target is to investigate the main cause which caused the stampede. We will collect all data of CCTV footage and announcements done during that time,” PTI reported, quoting a police source.

Also Read: New Delhi Station Stampede Toll Jumps To 18, Here’s Why It Happened

According to DCP, Railways, KPS Malhotra said that the stampede occurred due to the delay of two trains, overcrowding and misinformation. Prayagraj Express was on platform number 14. Passengers of Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were also present at platforms 12, 13 and 14 as the trains were delayed. “As per our information, 1,500 general tickets were sold (every hour), which is why the crowd became uncontrollable,” he told the media.

There was a surge in crowd to participate in the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Eyewitnesses claim that passengers waiting on platforms panicked and rushed after a sudden announcement a change in platform number of a train arriving at the station, leading to chaos on the foot overbridge.

Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay said that the incident occurred after some people, who were coming down from the foot overbridge towards platform numbers 14 and 15, using stairs slipped and fell on others.

Besides ordering a high-level inquiry into the incident, the Railways has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. Those with grievous injuries will receive Rs 2.5 lakh whereas those with minor bruises will get Rs 1 lakh.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in central Delhi.