At the least 15 useless in stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, probe on

A stampede occurred at New Delhi Railway Station Saturday evening (February 15), through which at the least 15 folks misplaced their lives, in line with reviews. One other 10 folks had been severely injured, in line with officers.

The stampede adopted chaos on platform numbers 14 and 15, officers mentioned.

Earlier, there have been reviews {that a} ‘stampede-like’ scenario had occurred on the railway station. The truth is, Northern Railways’s CPRO went on to assert that there was no stampede.

“It is just a hearsay. Northern Railways was working two deliberate particular trains (for Prayagraj),” mentioned the official.

Nonetheless, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V Okay Saxena had been the primary ones to substantiate the lack of lives within the tragic incident.

“Devastating information from New Delhi Railway Station. I’m extraordinarily pained by the lack of lives because of stampede on Railway platform. On this hour of grief, my ideas are with the bereaved households. Praying for the speedy of the injured,” Singh mentioned ina submit on X.

Saxena mentioned there was an unlucky and tragic incident of “lack of lives and accidents” because of “dysfunction and stampede” on the station.

Indian Railways has opened a high-level probe into the incident, as per reviews.

Official sources on the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain (LNJP) Hospital mentioned round 10-12 sufferers had been dropped at the ability.

“A number of fatalities have additionally been reported although the precise quantity is but to be confirmed. Many of the sufferers have sustained accidents requiring surgical procedure or orthopaedic therapy,” one of many sources advised PTI.

Eyewitnesses mentioned because of an enormous rush on the station, a number of passengers bought fainted due to suffocation.

In an official assertion, the deputy commissioner of police (railway) mentioned many individuals had been current on platform quantity 14 when the Prayagraj Categorical practice was standing on the platform.

The officer additional mentioned the Swantrata Senani Categorical and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Categorical had been delayed and the passengers of those trains had been additionally current on platform numbers 12, 13 and 14.

“As per CMI, each hour 1,500 basic tickets had been offered by railways because of which the station bought overcrowded and have become uncontrollable. There was a stampede at platform no. 14 and close to escalator close to platform no. 16,” the DCP mentioned.

The incident occurred round 9:55 pm, prompting an emergency response.

In a submit on X, the LG mentioned there was an unlucky and tragic incident of “lack of lives and accidents because of dysfunction and stampede” on the New Delhi railway station. “My deepest condolences to the households of victims of this tragedy,” he mentioned.

“Have spoken to Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner and requested them to handle and redress the scenario. CS has been requested to invoke DDMA measures and deploy reduction personnel. All hospitals are in readiness to handle associated exigencies,” he mentioned.

One of many passengers, Dharmendra Singh, mentioned, “I used to be going to Prayagraj however many trains had been working late or had been cancelled. The station was overcrowded. There have been way more folks than I’ve ever seen at this station. In entrance of me, six or seven girls had been taken away on stretchers.” One other passenger, Pramod Chaurasia, mentioned, “I had a sleeper-class ticket for Purushottam Categorical however even these with confirmed tickets couldn’t board the practice. One among my pals and a feminine passenger bought caught within the crowd. There was an excessive amount of pushing and jostling. We managed to remain secure by ready exterior with our kids.” Authorities instantly dispatched rescue groups and 4 hearth tenders had been rushed to the location to help within the reduction efforts, Delhi Hearth Companies (DFS) chief Atul Garg mentioned.

Preliminary reviews recommend overcrowding because of practice providers for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj led to the scenario.

Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Himanshu Upadhyay advised PTI that passengers pushed one another, which precipitated accidents to a few of them. The injured passengers had been taken to hospitals for first assist, he mentioned.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned in a submit on X that the scenario on the station is now below management, Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Pressure (CRPF) personnel have reached the spot and the injured have been taken to hospitals. Particular trains are being run to sort out the sudden rush, he added.

A big crowd gathered exterior the railway station, inflicting visitors congestion. Visitors police personnel had been deployed to handle and clear the scenario close to the Montrose Bridge.

(With inputs from PTI)