Patna (Bihar) [India] – Former Union Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday blamed railway mismanagement for the deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station, which claimed the lives of at least 18 people.
“The incident is very unfortunate, and I offer my condolences to the victims. This is a mismanagement by the Railway that led to the loss of so many lives. The Railway Minister should take responsibility,” Yadav told media.
Stampede Triggered by Overcrowding and Platform Change
The tragic incident occurred around 10 p.m. when thousands of devotees were traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, leading to severe overcrowding at the station.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhotra, stated that the stampede took place on platform number 14, where the Prayagraj Express was stationed. Delays in the departures of the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani further intensified congestion at platforms 12, 13, and 14.
An eyewitness recounted the chaos, explaining that a sudden announcement regarding a train platform change led to a rush from both sides, causing the stampede.
“There was no one to control the crowd… It was announced that the train coming on platform number 12 would now arrive on platform number 16. So, the crowd came from both sides, and a stampede occurred… some people were taken to the hospital,” the eyewitness said.
Unmanageable Crowd Despite Security Presence
Another witness described the overwhelming situation, noting that even administrative officials and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel struggled to manage the massive crowd.
“The crowd was beyond control; people were gathered at the foot over the bridge… Such a huge crowd wasn’t expected. I have never seen such a massive crowd at the railway station, even during festivals. People from the administration and even NDRF personnel were there, but when the crowd exceeded the limit, it wasn’t possible to control them,” the eyewitness said.
Additionally, the sale of around 1,500 general tickets and train delays contributed to the overcrowding, further escalating the situation.
Lalu Yadav’s Controversial Remark on Mahakumbh
When asked about crowd management measures for the upcoming Maha Kumbh, Yadav dismissed its significance, saying, “Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai. Faaltu hai Kumbh (Kumbh has no meaning. Kumbh is useless).”
The remarks have sparked controversy, as Maha Kumbh is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, attracting millions of pilgrims.
As investigations continue, questions are being raised about the preparedness of railway authorities to handle large crowds and prevent such tragic incidents in the future.