Stampede kills at least 18 at Indian train station

The situation spiralled out of control after two trains were delayed, leading to a stampede. Among the victims were children and women who were crushed while waiting for the train in Prayagraj, northern India.

At least 18 people, including 10 women and three children, have been killed in a stampede at a New Delhi railway station. Many of the victims were Hindu pilgrims travelling to the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj in northern India, according to Delhi's interim chief minister, Atishi, who uses only one name.

The stampede occurred on Saturday night when thousands of people gathered at New Delhi station waiting to board a train. The incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while getting off a walkway connecting the train platforms, authorities said.

Sheela Devi, who was at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital in New Delhi to collect her daughter-in-law's body, said an announcement about a change of platforms created confusion among passengers, leading to the stampede.

"The crowd went out of control and no one could control it," said Nikhil Kumar, a shopkeeper who witnessed the stampede. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished by the stampede." "My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured." "Authorities are helping all those affected by this stampede," he said on social media platform X.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said an inquiry had been ordered to find out what caused the stampede. Last month, at least 30 people were killed in a stampede during the six-week-long festival after tens of millions of Hindus gathered to bathe in the river's sacred waters.