Delhi Stampede Horror: Air Force Official Describes Chaos and Helplessness

A deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station claimed 18 lives on Saturday night as thousands of devotees gathered to board trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival. The incident, which occurred around 10 PM, resulted from severe overcrowding at the station.

An eyewitness, an Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant, recalled the chaos, stating that despite repeated warnings and announcements urging people to avoid crowding, the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

"The Administration Tried, But No One Was Listening"

Speaking to news agency ANI, Ajit, an Air Force officer, said, "We have a tri-service office at the railway station. While returning from duty, I saw a massive crowd. I made announcements asking people not to gather in large numbers on the platform, but no one listened. The administration was working hard to prevent any mishap, but the crowd remained uncontrollable. Along with a friend, I helped some of the injured."

Another eyewitness described the scene as overwhelming, stating that the sheer volume of people far exceeded manageable limits.

"The foot-over bridge was packed beyond capacity. I have never seen such a crowd, even during festival seasons. The administration and NDRF personnel were present, but once the crowd swelled beyond control, nothing could be done," he said.

"She Was Stuck in the Crowd-We Found Her Too Late"

At LNJP Hospital, a man who lost his sister in the tragedy recounted his heartbreaking experience.

"We were a group of 12 traveling to Maha Kumbh. We hadn't even reached the platform; we were still on the stairs when my sister got stuck in the crowd. It took us half an hour to find her, but by then, she was gone."

What Led to the Stampede?

According to another witness, the situation worsened when an unexpected train platform change was announced, causing a rush from both sides.

"A sudden announcement stated that a train scheduled for platform 12 would now arrive at platform 16. This caused a surge in movement, leading to the stampede. There was no one to control the crowd," he said.

Additionally, the sale of approximately 1,500 general tickets and delays in train departures exacerbated the overcrowding.

NDRF Commandant Daulat Ram Chaudhary confirmed that the situation is now under control. "We received reports of a stampede at platform 14 and immediately launched rescue operations. The injured have been evacuated," he said.

Meanwhile, DCP Railway KPS Malhotra acknowledged that authorities had anticipated a large crowd but could not prevent the incident.

"We expected congestion, but it escalated within moments. The Railways will conduct a fact-finding investigation to determine the exact cause," he told ANI.

A two-member high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident and assess the factors leading to the stampede.

"The situation is under control. Passengers have been accommodated on special trains, and normal train movement has resumed," said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity, Railway Board.

To manage the surge in passengers, the Railways operated four additional special trains, and station entry was temporarily restricted.

"We observed an unusually high number of passengers today. Several people fainted and were taken to a local hospital. For a brief period, we restricted entry to the station, but operations are now back to normal," Kumar added.

DCP Malhotra further explained that delays in the departures of Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani trains contributed to congestion at platforms 12, 13, and 14, which ultimately led to the tragedy.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident as families mourn the loss of their loved ones.