18 dead in stampede at Indian national capital's railway station

A massive crowd crush claimed 18 lives and injured about two dozen at New Delhi station in the Indian capital late on Saturday night as tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims tried to board trains to the world's largest religious congregation in the city of Prayagraj, some 600 km away. Initial media reports, which put the number of dead at 15, said overcrowding on four platforms had led to a stampede.

TV channels beamed images of injured women and children and shoes, slippers and luggage left behind on railway platforms. This is the second stampede associated with the Mahakumbh religious festival where about 500 million people have taken a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Some 30 pilgrims were killed on January 29 at the pilgrim site in the city of Prayagraj when a crowd surge to take a holy dip at the confluence went out of control.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed remorse over the tragedy in a late night message on X (formerly Twitter): "Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede."

Railways Minister Ashwini Viashnaw's tone was softer on the same social media platform: "Situation under control at New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Delhi Police and RPF reached. Injured taken to hospital. Special trains being run to evacuate sudden rush."

The railways have ordered a high -level probe into the cause of the tragedy. The crush will likely amplify calls for better management of large gatherings in the country of 1.4 billion and put the Modi administration under glare.