At least 15 people were killed and 15 others injured in a stampede at a railway station in capital, New Delhi, late Saturday as crowds rushed to catch trains to the world’s largest religious congregation, the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Delhi’s caretaker chief minister Atishi, who uses only one name, was the first official to confirm the death toll. She said the bodies had been taken to the capital’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital in the capital.
What do we know about the incident?
The incident occurred at about 8 p.m. local time (1430 GMT) on two platforms as passengers were waiting to board trains to Prayagraj city, a temporary township created for the festival.
“I can confirm 15 deaths at the hospital. They don’t have any open injury. Most [likely died from] hypoxia or maybe some blunt injury but that would only be confirmed after an autopsy,” Dr Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi told AFP news agency.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a X post that he was “extremely pained by the loss of lives due to stampede” at the New Delhi railway station.
Prime Minister said that he was “distressed” by the stampede.”I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede,” he wrote on X.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that an investigation has been ordered to find out what led to the stampede.
At least 30 people were during the six-week festival last month after tens of millions of Hindus gathered to bathe in sacred river waters.
Edited by: Rana Taha, Wesley Dockery
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