Stampede on Saturday night resulted in 18 deaths as thousands of devotees rushed to board trains for the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj. Intense overcrowding on platforms 14 and 15 led to chaos, with delays and last-minute platform changes pushing the crowd to a breaking point. Eyewitnesses, including an IAF sergeant, described the horrific scenes of people collapsing, fainting, and struggling to breathe as security forces struggled to manage the surge. Among the 18 dead, 14 were women, including minors. Dozens of passengers were injured, many severely, as they were crushed and trampled in the stampede. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident. A high-level committee is reviewing CCTV footage and crowd control measures to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Delhi Police and RPF swiftly managed the chaos. Four special trains were deployed to evacuate passengers and restore order after a sudden surge.
