Lalu yadav (ANI (File Photo))
Delhi: In a tragic turn of events, a massive stampede at New Delhi Railway Station claimed 18 lives and left dozens injured as thousands rushed to board trains heading for Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav blamed the Railway Ministry for mismanagement and called for accountability. His controversial remark dismissing the Maha Kumbh as "faaltu" (useless) has sparked outrage.
The incident occurred around 10 PM on Sunday when thousands of pilgrims gathered at platform 14, where the Prayagraj Express was stationed. Simultaneous delays in the departures of Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani led to congestion at platforms 12, 13, and 14, triggering chaos.
An eyewitness described the horror, stating that an announcement about a platform change led to a crush of people from both directions, causing a fatal stampede. "There was no crowd control. Hundreds surged forward at once, and people got trapped and trampled," he said.
Kumbh Mahakumbh, sab faltu hai (Mahakumbh is nonsense) - Lalu Yadav
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) February 16, 2025
I still don't understand why this corrupt has been out on bail for so long. pic.twitter.com/bsZXBNUWuG
Criticism of railway authorities has intensified, with Lalu Prasad Yadav declaring the incident a "clear failure of management." He demanded that the Railway Minister take responsibility for the loss of lives."This tragedy could have been prevented if proper crowd management had been in place. The Railway Minister must be held accountable for the mismanagement that led to so many deaths. Lalu told to sources.
When asked about better crowd management strategies for the Maha Kumbh, Lalu dismissed the event entirely, saying, "Kumbh ka koi matlab nahi hai. Faaltu hai Kumbh" (Kumbh has no meaning. It is useless). His remark has triggered a political storm, with Hindu religious groups and BJP leaders condemning his "insensitive and disrespectful" statement.
Eyewitnesses reported a complete breakdown of crowd control measures, even as NDRF personnel and railway officials tried to intervene. The foot overbridge was jam-packed, and people started pushing each other. I have never seen such a massive crowd at the railway station, even during festivals, said another survivor. Reports suggest that the stampede was exacerbated by the sale of 1,500 general tickets, far exceeding platform capacity. Train delays and last-minute changes further contributed to the panic.
With public outrage mounting, demands for immediate accountability and stricter crowd management policies have intensified. The Railway Ministry has ordered an inquiry, while opposition parties are calling for urgent reforms in handling large crowds at major stations.
As investigations continue, the families of the victims demand justice, and the nation watches closely to see if the Railway Ministry will step up to prevent another disaster.
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