The death toll in the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night (February 15) has risen to 18, with several others injured and receiving medical care. The incident occurred around 10 PM as thousands of devotees thronged the station, eager to travel to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh 2025, leading to severe overcrowding.

Authorities swiftly responded, rushing the injured to nearby hospitals, but fears persist that the toll may rise further.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the tragedy despite the lateness of the hour, with officials mobilizing resources for relief operations.

Among the deceased are Aha Devi (79), Pinki Devi (41), Sheela Devi (50), Vayom (25), Poonam Devi (40), Lalita Devi (35), Suruchi (11), Krishna Devi (40), Vijay Sah (15), Neeraj (12), Shanti Devi (40), Pooja (8), Sangeeta Malik (34), Poonam (34), Mamata Jha (40), Riya Singh (7), Baby Kumari (24), and Manoj (47).

Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the chaos. Indian Air Force Sergeant Ajit, who was present at the station, told ANI, “We have a tri-service office at the railway station. When I was returning after my duty, I couldn't go due to the huge crowd… I tried to convince people and also made announcements appealing to avoid gathering on the platform in large numbers. The administration was working hard to prevent any mishap, but no one was listening… I also helped the injured people with the help of one of my friends.”

Another eyewitness described the situation as uncontrollable, stating, "The crowd was beyond control, people were gathered at the foot over bridge... Such a huge crowd wasn't expected. I have never seen such a massive crowd at the railway station, even during festivals. People from the administration and even NDRF personnel were there, but when the crowd exceeded the limit, it wasn't possible to control them," ANI reported.