At least 18 dead in a stampede at a New Delhi train station during the world’s largest religious holiday

At least 18 people, including four minors and eleven women, have died this Saturday in a stampe Every twelve years is celebratednext February 26 of this year.

Two of the pilgrimage trains were delayed Because of the excessive accumulation of people, which caused a sudden movement and the fatal avalanche, according to Indian television NDTV. A spokesman for the Lok Nayak hospital in New Delhi had previously confirmed 15 victims: ten women, three minors and two men. Later, Sanitraios of Lady Harding Hospital have added another three deaths.

It all started at 8:00 p.m. (15.30 in peninsular Spain) between platforms 14 and 15 of the station, where the passengers were waiting to climb the trains to Prayagraj destinationDestiny of the pilgrimage of Kumbhamela. When the train began to be filled, it became clear that all the people present did not fit and the shoves began.

The authorities had reinforced the security and five firefighters responded upon receiving the alert, highlighted Railroad Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in their first reaction, before knowing that there were deceased.

«The situation is under control at the New Delhi railway station. The Delhi Police and the Railroad Police are in place. The injured have been evacuated to hospitals. Special trains have started the evacuation of the people, ”said Vaishnaw in a message posted in X.

For his part, the governor of Delhi, has asserted through the same platform that has commissioned the “chief secretary and the police commissioner who address the situation” after this “unfortunate incident”, while giving orders to the bodies of security in charge of deploying relief personnel on the ground. “I am constantly monitoring operations,” he guaranteed.

While, India Railways has ordered the opening of an investigation And the prime minister, Narendra Modi, has expressed regret for the incident. «My regret for the stampede at the New Delhi railway station. I think of all those who have lost loved ones. I pray for the rapid recovery of the injured. The authorities are helping those affected, ”he said.