'Shouted for Help, But No One Came': 18 Dead in Delhi Railway Station Stampede

The tragedy occurred at around 10 pm on Saturday due to an influx of devotees travelling to Mahakumbh.

18 Dead in Stampede at Delhi Railway Station.

(Photo - Altered By The Quint)

"I called 100 countless times, but there was no response. At that moment, my wife still had some life in her. I begged the railway police officers to check on her. I said, 'At least check those who are still alive.' By the time the stretcher arrived, it was too late."

This is what 52-year-old Umesh Giri told The Quint after losing his wife, Sheelam Devi, in the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on the night of 15 February.

The tragic incident on platforms 14 and 15 claimed at least 18 lives, including 14 women, according to government figures.

Many others, like Umesh Giri, were injured and are currently receiving treatment at Lok Nayak Hospital.

The Ministry of Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased. Victims with serious injuries will, reportedly, receive Rs 2.5 lakh, while those with minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh. The Delhi Police has also released a list of the deceased's names.

According to DCP, Railway, KPS Malhotra, "When the Prayagraj Express was at platform 14, many people gathered… The Freedom Fighter Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani were delayed, and their passengers were also present on platforms 12, 13, and 14. According to our information, 1,500 general tickets were sold, which caused the crowd to become uncontrollable. There was a stampede-like situation near platform 14 and near the escalator at platform 1."

Of the 18 deceased, 15 bodies were taken to Lok Nayak Hospital, while 3 were taken to Lady Hardinge Hospital. The injured are being treated at both hospitals.

How the Tragedy Unfolded

Umesh Giri, along with his wife Sheelam Devi and two children, was on his way to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh.

Umesh told The Quint that their train, the Prayagraj Special, was scheduled to depart at 10:10 PM. They first encountered crowds at platform 16, but Umesh assumed it was expected due to the Mahakumbh rush.

But, when they reached platform 14, he said, the crowd turned dangerously chaotic.

The pain on his face was evident. While the agony of his injured feet was immense, he says, it pales in comparison to the heartbreak of losing his wife forever.

Sheelam Devi lost her life in the stampede.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

"There wasn't a single official from the administration there. People were shouting for help, but no one was listening," said Umesh.

"Countless people stepped over me, my children, and my wife. She didn’t survive. I called out for help countless times, but there was no response. At that moment, my wife still had some life left in her. I begged the railway police officers to check on her. I said, 'At least check those who are still alive.' By the time the stretcher arrived, it was too late."

Umesh Giri

Umesh Giri sustained injuries to his feet.

(Photo - Ashutosh Kumar Singh, The Quint)

'Police Didn't Help, Fearing for Their Safety'

35-year-old Lalita Devi was traveling from Patna to Panipat with her nephew, Girdhari. They first took a train to Anand Vihar and then arrived at New Delhi Railway Station, where she was supposed to catch a train to Panipat. However, she got caught in the stampede at the station and tragically lost her life.

Speaking to The Quint, Girdhari, her nephew, who was with her at the time, said he saw a police officer near the platform during the stampede, but the officer did not help as he, too, was at risk of losing his life.

"The police officer was just blowing his whistle. He didn’t call for reinforcements, despite seeing the stampede. Once the crowd had thinned out a bit, I descended the stairs and saw that my aunt was trapped under the feet of people. I dragged her to the side. Her breathing was slow at that point. I then placed her in an ambulance with the police and brought her to Lok Nayak Hospital, but she passed away there. They didn’t even give her oxygen. They just laid her on the bed and said she was already dead."

Girdhari

Girdhari also claimed that there was a child beside his aunt's bed who also died without receiving oxygen.

Meanwhile, the deceased's other nephew, Suraj, told The Quint that despite being crushed in the stampede, his aunt was still breathing, but there was no one at the station to attend to her or provide first aid—there was neither police nor any administrative officials present.

Lalita Devi's husband, Santosh, works as a scrap dealer. He was the first to receive the news that his wife had been severely injured in the stampede and was being taken to the hospital. However, coming to Delhi without proper planning was not easy. He had to ask his employer to arrange a vehicle and then figure out how to cover the cost of fuel.

Santosh has lost his wife Lalita Devi forever.

(Photo: Shadab Moizi, The Quint)

Speaking to The Quint, he claimed that after reaching the hospital, when his wife's body was being taken to the mortuary, neither he nor his family were informed about where the body was being taken. Suraj makes the same accusation.