2025 New Delhi railway station crowd crush

{{Infobox event

| image = Platform 14 and 15 of New Delhi railway station.jpg

| caption = The footbridge above platforms 14 and 15 of the New Delhi railway station, where the crowd crush took place

| date = {{start date|df=yes|2025|02|15}}

| place = New Delhi railway station, New Delhi, India

| coordinates = {{coord|28|38|27.7|N|77|13|17.4|E|scale:100000_region:IN|display=inline,title}}

| type = Crowd collapses and Stampede

| cause = Train delays leading to overcrowding

| reported deaths = 18{{efn|name="victims"}}

| reported injuries = 15

}}

On February 15, 2025, a crowd crush killed at least 18 people{{efn|name="victims"}} and injured 15 others at the New Delhi railway station in New Delhi, India. The crush occurred after some passengers began to slip on a footbridge above platforms 14 and 15, causing a crushing pile of people to form in the already overcrowded station.

Leading up to the incident, between 400–500 million Hindu worshipers had been traveling to the religious festival Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, northern India, a festival which takes place every three years in one of four cities in the country. Overbooking tickets, train delays, and confusion between similar-sounding rail lines all led to the hazardous and crowded conditions which caused the crush. The youngest victim was a 7-year-old girl, and the oldest a 79-year-old woman.

According to The Hindu, the railway and public officials attempted to silence information about the casualties of the crush. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena is reported to have edited a post he made about the incident on X to remove any mentions of the deaths. The information was eventually released, and a ₹1,000,000 ex gratia compensation fund was established for the families of the victims. A high-level investigation made up of a two-member committee was launched to determine the cause of the crush. New crowd control measures including special holding areas and operating manual updates were announced for sixty high-traffic stations following the incident.

Background

In the days leading up to the tragedy, the major religious festival Maha Kumbh had been taking place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, northern India,{{cite web |title=At least 18 people are dead after a stampede at New Delhi railway station in India |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-stampede-new-delhi-train-station-fe02ef8a72909f9afcfb4075c0467352 |work=AP News |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=15 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215235131/https://apnews.com/article/india-stampede-new-delhi-train-station-fe02ef8a72909f9afcfb4075c0467352 |url-status=live }} about {{cvt|624|km}} southeast of the capital of New Delhi.{{cite web |title=Children among 18 killed in stampede at New Delhi train station in India |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/16/children-among-15-killed-in-crush-at-new-delhi-train-station-in-india |work=Al Jazeera |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025}} The festival, which ran from 13 January to 26 February 2025, involves devotees bathing in the holy water at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to wash away sins. The festival, which takes place every three years in one of four cities in India, regularly saw a large number of Hindu pilgrims. An estimated 400–500 million believers had visited the festival since it began, more than usual as the festival also coincided with a celestial alignment occurring every 144 years. Despite a prior history of crowd crushes at large religious events in the country, including one which took place just a few weeks prior during the same festival which saw 30 casualties,{{cite web |last1=Kaul |first1=Vitasta |last2=Lakhera |first2=Vedaant |last3=Sharma |first3=Ashutosh |title=How many more must die before government takes railway safety and crowd management seriously? |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-kumbh-mela-2025/article69228901.ece |work=Frontline |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217120233/https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-kumbh-mela-2025/article69228901.ece |url-status=live }} around 1,500 tickets were regularly sold every hour at the train station, with an excess 2,600 tickets over the 5,000 maximum sold the day of the incident.{{cite web |last1=Mukul |first1=Sushim |title=Five red flags Railways missed just ahead of New Delhi stampede |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-delhi-station-stampede-details-reasons-causes-announcement-maha-kumbh-prayagraj-platform-special-train-2681227-2025-02-17 |work=India Today |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=17 February 2025 |archive-date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217123801/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-delhi-station-stampede-details-reasons-causes-announcement-maha-kumbh-prayagraj-platform-special-train-2681227-2025-02-17 |url-status=live }} This caused the platforms, which were only built to hold up to 3,000 passengers comfortably, to be overcrowded.

Incident

{{Quote box

|quote = I have been working here for nearly 25 years, but have never seen anything like this [crowd] before during the Kumbh Mela

|author = — Railway porter Lakhanlal Meena

|source = reporting on the incident to the magazine Frontline

|width = 25%

|align = right

|quoted = yes

}}

Between 9:15pm and 9:30pm on February 15, 2025, thousands had gathered to board a train at the New Delhi railway station for the festival. The delay of two trains beforehand, however, had led to many of those waiting to become impatient. Furthermore, confusion between the routes "Prayagraj Special", arriving at platform 16, and "Prayagraj Express", already arrived at platform 14, confused some passengers, making them believe they would miss their train.{{cite web |title=Did passengers' confusion over train names lead to New Delhi railway station stampede? |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/did-passengers-confusion-over-train-names-lead-to-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-101739701876547.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216123207/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/did-passengers-confusion-over-train-names-lead-to-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-101739701876547.html |url-status=live }} Additionally, while rope dividers and heightened security was typically present during other large travel seasons like Chhath, no such precautions were in place on 15 February.

While passengers were traversing an overhead footbridge connecting platforms 14 and 15, some began to slip while descending, possibly due to a passenger fainting, which caused a crushing pile of people to form.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Liu Chuen |last2=Tiwari |first2=Pushkar |title=Delhi Railway Station Stampede Updates: Families' Desperate Search For Missing Loved Ones As Death Count Touches 18 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-delhi-railway-station-chaos-deaths-live-updates-maha-kumbh-mela-prayagraj-7719911 |work=NDTV |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216041436/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-delhi-railway-station-chaos-deaths-live-updates-maha-kumbh-mela-prayagraj-7719911 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Bajpai |first1=Shubham |title=Delhi Railway Station Stampede Highlights: Additional GRP, RPF personnel deployed for crowd management |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-live-death-count-injured-pm-modi-ashwini-vaishnaw-congress-officials-cause-mahakumbh-prayagraj-train-latest-updates-976422 |work=India TV |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216022249/https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-live-death-count-injured-pm-modi-ashwini-vaishnaw-congress-officials-cause-mahakumbh-prayagraj-train-latest-updates-976422 |url-status=live }} Alongside the already large amount of people running and pushing to try to board the train, panic quickly arose and the situation deteriorated quickly. According to those who witnessed the crush, the piling of people soon turned into chaos, only worsened after someone in the crowd called "stampede". Railway porters and "coolies" became the first responders to the incident, carrying victims and unconscious passengers away from the crush, as well as using private vehicles to drive them to the nearby Lok Nayak Hospital, as ambulances could not reach the scene.{{cite web |last1=Bhandari |first1=Hemani |last2=Singh |first2=Paras |title=How porters became first line of rescue in New Delhi stn stampede |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/how-porters-became-first-line-of-rescue-in-new-delhi-stn-stampede-101739734609497.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=17 February 2025}} An emergency call was made during the incident at around 9:55pm, where four fire tenders became the first proper emergency staff on the scene, arriving 40–45 minutes after the incident had begun. Police and relief teams later helped to control the situation.{{cite web |last1=Grounds |first1=Ellie |title=Stampede at Indian railway station kills Maha Kumbh festival pilgrims |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-16/india-railway-station-stampede/104942510 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216193232/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-16/india-railway-station-stampede/104942510 |url-status=live }} According to the coolies and other witnesses originally at the scene, hardly any of the relief help came from the police and railway authorities, recounting that there were only two Railway Protection Force (RPF) authorities present when the incident began. Despite the low number present, video of a RPF woman saving a five-month-old baby from the incident circulated online.{{cite web |title=New Delhi Station Stampede: With Child In Hand, This Woman Constable Performs Duty At NDLS |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/new-delhi-station-stampede-with-child-in-hand-this-woman-constable-performs-duty-at-ndls-904042 |work=NDTV |date=18 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=18 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218064632/https://www.ndtv.com/video/new-delhi-station-stampede-with-child-in-hand-this-woman-constable-performs-duty-at-ndls-904042 |url-status=live }} Four trains were additionally sent to evacuate the sudden surge of passengers.

Casualties and information blackout

File:Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi 06.jpg]]

According to the Indian newspaper The Hindu, the railway initially tried to prevent news about any casualties from reaching the press. Originally, statements from the railway only said some passengers had been rushed to the hospital. Furthermore, press was not allowed to enter the hospital which received victims from the crush. This was likely due to multiple victims from the crush being crammed onto a single bed due to a lack of space at the hospital, according to the family of some of the victims. In contrast to this information blackout, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena posted on X condoling the deaths. Saxena's post was then edited around 12:24am to remove any mention of casualties. Singh's remained unedited, however, and the Chief Casualty Medical Officer at the hospital confirmed the deaths soon after. Only 20 hours after the incident did the railways officially acknowledge any deaths had occurred. Initial reports by the chief minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi stated there had been 15 casualties and 15 injured.{{cite web |last1=Sampson |first1=Eve |title=15 Reported Dead in Stampede at New Delhi Rail Station |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/asia/kumbh-mela-stampede-delhi-station.html |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=15 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215225813/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/asia/kumbh-mela-stampede-delhi-station.html |url-status=live }} By the following day, this number had increased to 18 casualties:{{efn|name="victims"|The name of those announced deceased and their age are: Asha Devi (79), Pinky Devi (41), Sheela Devi (50), Vyom (25), Poonam Devi (40), Lalita Devi (35), Suruchi (11), Krishna Devi (40), Vijay Sah (15), Neeraj (12), Shanti Devi (40), Pooja Kumari (8), Sangeeta Malik (34), Poonam (34), Mamta Jha (40), Riya Singh (7), Baby Kumari (24), Manoj (47).{{cite web |title=Full list of names of 18 dead in New Delhi Railway Station stampede due to Maha Kumbh rush |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/full-list-of-names-of-18-dead-in-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-due-to-maha-kumbh-rush/articleshow/118300174.cms |work=Times of India |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216102244/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/full-list-of-names-of-18-dead-in-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-due-to-maha-kumbh-rush/articleshow/118300174.cms |url-status=live }}}} 14 of whom being women, and 5 of whom being children.{{cite web |last1=Bhardwaj |first1=Mayank |title=Death toll rises to at least 18 in New Delhi railway station stampede |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/death-toll-rises-least-18-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-2025-02-16/ |work=Reuters |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025}} The youngest victim was a 7-year-old girl and the oldest a 79-year-old woman. Other victims included an 8-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, a 24-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man, nine 35-to-45-year-old women, a 45-year-old man, and a 47-year-old man. Many of the victims were rushed to the nearby Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi.

Response

Following the crowd crush, security was heightened at train stations to help in crowd management and to prevent further incidents from immediately occurring.{{cite web |title=New Delhi Railway Station Stampede Live Updates: Day after 18 killed, additional GRP, RPF personnel deployed for crowd management at Delhi station |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-news-live-updates-stampede-railway-station-death-injured-maha-kumbh-9838439/ |work=The Indian Express |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216071131/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-news-live-updates-stampede-railway-station-death-injured-maha-kumbh-9838439/ |url-status=live }} This was accomplished through the deployment of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to the area, who used loud speakers to make continuous announcements to the crowds of passengers. Additionally, the four additional trains sent to the station stayed to help carry travelers for the remaining duration of the festival, with five additional trains expected to join in the effort on 17 February. On 17 February 2025, new temporary and permanent holding areas outside the platforms were announced at sixty railways, including New Delhi's, experiencing a high volume of passengers to prevent a similar incident from occurring.{{cite web |title=Special holding area, new manual: Railways' crowd-control plan post NDLS stampede |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/special-holding-area-new-manual-railways-crowd-control-plan-post-ndls-stampede-101739801600068.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=17 February 2025}} These temporary holding areas until trains arrive reportedly had worked well in Prayagraj where the festival was taking place, but had not been implemented at other stations. Furthermore, a separate manual for crowd control was released by Union Minister of Railways Vaishnaw, which included raising awareness for passengers to not sit on the footbridge stairs while waiting, among other advice.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a statement that he was "distressed by the stampede." The Delhi High Court on February 19, 2025 ordered the Indian Railways and other stakeholders to find ways to prevent such tragedies from happening again.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Shekhar |date=2025-02-19 |title='Direct consequence of blatant disregard for safety regulations': Delhi HC on railway station stampede |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2025/Feb/19/direct-consequence-of-blatant-disregard-for-safety-regulations-delhi-hc-on-railway-station-stampede |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Why tickets were sold beyond limit? Court raps Railways over Delhi stampede |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/new-delhi-railway-station-stampede-high-court-railways-centre-ticket-selling-platforms-2682313-2025-02-19 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=India Today |language=en}} The Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw stated a high-level investigation made up of a two-member committee had been launched to determine the cause of the crush; consisting of the Northern Railway Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM), Narsingh Deo, and its Principal Chief Safety Commissioner (PCSC), Pankaj Gangwar. All CCTV footage from the station, alongside eyewitness testimony, was being collected for the investigation.{{cite web |last1=Porecha |first1=Maitri |title=High-level committee formed to probe into New Delhi railway station stampede |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/high-level-committee-formed-to-probe-into-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede/article69227090.ece |work=The Hindu |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |url-access=limited |archive-date=16 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216170232/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/high-level-committee-formed-to-probe-into-new-delhi-railway-station-stampede/article69227090.ece |url-status=live }} No officials have been named responsible for the incident pre-investigation, and the investigation has no deadline for when it is to be completed. The Railway Ministry also announced a ₹1,000,000 compensation to the families of victims, ₹250,000 to those with serious injuries (including 3 people), and ₹100,000 to those with minor injuries (including 12 people). The ex gratia payment notably took place before any official statement about casualties had been made by the railway. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena went to visit some of those injured in the hospital. Opposition leaders in the country criticized the government for not having properly prepared the railways for the festival season, and called for more of the money spent on the advertising the festival to instead go towards safety precautions.{{cite web |last1=Goel |first1=Abhinav |last2=Pasha |first2=Dilnawaz |title=Families heartbreak after deadly Delhi railway station crush |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8x3kjd7zzo |work=BBC |date=16 February 2025 |access-date=17 February 2025}} General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, Randeep Surjewala, called on Union Minister of Railways Vaishnaw to resign from the incident.