Key Takeaways:

• At least 18 fatalities reported in a stampede at a New Delhi railway station.
• Crowds were attempting to board trains for the Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu religious festival.
• Indian Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences and called for a speedy recovery for the injured.
• A high-level inquiry into the circumstances of the stampede has been initiated.
• The event has a history of crowd-related disasters, with significant casualties in past gatherings.

At least 18 people have died as a result of a tragic stampede at a railway station in New Delhi on February 15, according to multiple reports. The chaotic scenes unfolded as large crowds scrambled to catch trains bound for the Kumbh Mela, recognized as the world's largest religious gathering, attracting tens of millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj. The festival, a focal point of the Hindu religious calendar, began last month and is scheduled to conclude on February 26.

During the rush at the train station, reports indicated that many struggled to board the trains, leading to a dangerous crush at the platforms. Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital, shared insights about the incident, stating, “I can confirm 15 deaths at the hospital… Most likely died from hypoxia or maybe some blunt injury, but that would only be confirmed after an autopsy.” Alongside these tragic losses, 11 other individuals sustained injuries, primarily classified as orthopaedic, and are considered stable.

Reports from Le Monde noted that eyewitness accounts describe unprecedented crowd sizes, with some individuals recalling never experiencing such overwhelming density at the station in their years of work there. Following the incident, the Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that additional special trains would be deployed to manage the influx of pilgrims and a high-level inquiry into the stampede's causes has been initiated.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his distress over the incident, stating, “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery,” through a post on social media. The Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, confirmed that disaster management teams were on alert to assist with any further exigencies.

Notably, the Kumbh Mela has seen a history of tragic incidents linked to crowd control, with past events witnessing over 400 fatalities due to similar disasters. Just last month, calls were raised for safety reforms after a surge led to 30 deaths at the Ganges river confluence events.

The ongoing Kumbh Mela has already seen an influx of approximately 500 million devotees, casting a spotlight on the need for effective crowd management as the religious gathering continues to unfold.

For further updates, visit SCMP and Channel News Asia.