Moments after the stampede: Sirens, confusion, and desperation

Within hours of a deadly stampede that killed at least 18 people on Saturday night, New Delhi Railway Station was a scene of desperation and chaos.

- Varun Bhandari

NEW DELHI: Sirens wailed through the night as ambulances and police vehicles rushed to the station, while frantic families searched for their missing loved ones amid the overwhelming crowd.

By 12.30am, over a dozen ambulances, two dozen police vehicles, and hundreds of security personnel were stationed in and around the station. The entry and exit gates were heavily guarded, and there was an increased security presence at platforms 12 to 16. Ticket counters were shut, and railway announcements were suspended until after 1.30am, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Survivors described the horror of thousands crowding onto platforms as three Prayagraj-bound trains prepared to depart for the Maha Kumbh, setting off last-minute confusion and panic that led to the stampede.