New Delhi Stampede: 18 Dead, Railways Announces ₹10 Lakh Compensation

A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night tragically claimed 18 lives and left several others injured.

The incident occurred when passengers, heading to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, surged onto platforms 14 and 15.

Compensation Announced

In light of this tragedy, Indian Railways has announced compensation for the victims:

₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased,₹2.5 lakh for the seriously injured and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries

Government Response and Assurances

Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating, “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

President Droupadi Murmu also extended her condolences, stating:

“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reassured the public that authorities were actively managing the situation.
‘Deeply saddened by the unfortunate stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident’, he said.

 

Immediate Actions Taken

Furthermore, Delhi Lt Governor, V.K. Saxena, swiftly instructed officials to implement disaster management measures.

Hospitals were placed on high alert, and authorities initiated relief efforts immediately.
Furthermore, Delhi Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) deployed officers to the site to restore order, while special trains were arranged to manage the rush of passengers.

Cause of the Incident

According to DCP Railway KPS Malhotra, the stampede was caused by a sudden surge of passengers due to delays of two major trains, which created overcrowding on platforms 14 and 15.

Security and Future Precautions

The Northern Railway confirmed that the situation was under control and that special trains were being run to manage the heavy rush. In the aftermath of the incident, both the Delhi Police and RPF have increased their presence at the station.

As the Maha Kumbh Mela approaches its conclusion on February 26, authorities are, therefore, working on implementing additional crowd control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Also Read: Technological Methods Help Accurately Estimate Crowd Numbers At Maha Kumbh 2025