Over the weekend, a devastating crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station resulted in the loss of at least 15 lives, including 10 women and three children. The incident occurred as passengers were attempting to board trains heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering held in Prayagraj, India.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police, KPS Malhotra, the crush occurred late Saturday night due to delays in train services and an overwhelming influx of passengers, leading to severe overcrowding. The situation spiraled out of control for a brief period of 10 to 15 minutes, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
This unfortunate event comes shortly after a previous crowd crush at the Maha Kumbh Mela claimed the lives of dozens of attendees. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the latest deaths, offering his condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Union Minister of Railways of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw, also expressed deep sadness over the incident and assured that efforts were underway to assist those affected. Four trains were deployed to evacuate individuals from the station, with police presence ensuring that the situation was brought under control.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, known as the world's largest peaceful gathering, is expected to draw a staggering 400 million attendees over a six-week period. Despite the tragic events, authorities are working diligently to support those impacted and ensure the safety of participants at the festival of the Sacred Pitcher on the banks of Prayagraj.
