The surge in passengers is attributed to the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, which has drawn over 500 million pilgrims in the past month. Devotees from across the nation have been traveling to participate in the religious event, significantly increasing the pressure on transportation hubs like New Delhi Railway Station.
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes of overcrowding and confusion. One distraught individual shared, "My mother died; we were going home... there was no one to control the crowd." Such accounts underscore the lack of adequate crowd management measures during peak travel times.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to prevent such incidents in the future.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the causes of the stampede. Preliminary reports suggest that the sudden influx of passengers, combined with insufficient crowd control protocols, may have precipitated the disaster. Vaishnaw stated, "We are committed to identifying the lapses that led to this tragic event and will implement necessary measures to ensure passenger safety."
This calamity follows a similar incident earlier in the month at the Maha Kumbh festival itself, where a stampede resulted in the loss of approximately 30 lives. Despite efforts to enhance crowd management, including the deployment of artificial intelligence systems and the installation of over 300 surveillance cameras, challenges persist in handling the vast numbers of attendees.
The Uttar Pradesh government has acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the festival, with Director General of Police Prashant Kumar noting, "The traffic congestion is unparalleled; there is no global precedent for managing crowds of this magnitude." Authorities have been utilizing technology to monitor crowd density and predict potential bottlenecks, yet the sheer volume of pilgrims presents ongoing difficulties.
In response to the New Delhi incident, railway officials have initiated measures to manage passenger flow more effectively. Additional staff have been deployed to critical platforms, and announcements are being made to guide travelers and prevent overcrowding. Plans are also underway to increase the frequency of trains to high-demand destinations, aiming to distribute passenger loads more evenly.
The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, is one of the most significant religious gatherings globally, attracting millions of devotees seeking spiritual cleansing. The 2025 event has seen participation surpassing previous records, with expectations that the number of pilgrims will exceed 600 million by its conclusion.