The New Delhi Railway Station, a familiar hustle of travelers, turned into a scene of tragedy on Saturday night when a crowd crush resulted in at least 18 fatalities and many injuries. The chaos erupted as two trains were delayed, stranding passengers at the platform, with a third train ready for departure. An Indian Railways spokesperson reported that the incident began when a passenger slipped on the stairs, causing a domino effect among the tightly packed crowd.
Eyewitness accounts have revealed a dire situation where many were unable to breathe as they were trapped beneath flows of bodies. Bipin Jha, who witnessed his wife Mamta perish in the crush, recalled, "She died in front of my eyes. I will live my life with the guilt of not saving her."
Seema, a survivor who managed to escape, described the tension rising as people pushed, causing others to fall over. She shared that "the crowd was so dense that we couldn't board our train," revealing just how chaotic the scene had become.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism towards the Indian Railways, with opposition leaders accusing them of failing to manage the crowds effectively. Umesh Giri, who lost his wife, stated that the situation was uncontrollable and help arrived too late.
Most victims were taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, where families expressed frustration over the hospital conditions, with reports of multiple injured being placed on single beds.
As grieving families emerge from the turmoil, the calls for better safety measures and accountability from the authorities are louder than ever.
