New Delhi

At least 15 people have been killed after a massive crowd of passengers in a rush to catch trains to Prayagraj to attend the ongoing Maha Kumbh at the New Delhi Railway Station led to a stampede late on Saturday night, officials said.

A senior official from the LNJP Hospital confirmed the deaths.

The situation began taking a chaotic turn at around 8 p.m. on platform numbers 14 and 15 of the station as passengers were waiting to catch trains to the holy city Prayagraj to attend the Mahakumbh Mela.

According to officials, additional security personnel have been deployed to control the situation at the New Delhi Railway Station. At least four fire engines were also rushed to the spot.

Amid all the chaos, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had posted on social media a while ago that the situation was under control.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the loss of life in the stampede.

PM Modi wrote on social media platform X, “Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery,”

The Prime Minister added that the authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.

The situation began taking a chaotic turn at around 8 p.m. on platforms numbers 14 and 15 of the station as passengers were waiting to catch trains to the holy city of Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela.

According to officials, additional security personnel have been deployed to control the situation at the New Delhi Railway Station. At least four fire engines were also rushed to the spot.

Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav ordered a : "High-level inquiry" inquiy into the incident..

The Northern Railway, in a post on X, wrote: "Situation of heavy rush at New Delhi Station is under control. Delhi police and RPF reached. The injured have been taken to hospital. Special trains are being run to evacuate sudden rush."

ALSO READ: Varanasi’s Saleem Merchant hosts Hindu pilgrims for no cost

Earlier this week, some passengers at a railway station in Bihar broke the glass windows of a train after they failed to board the train. Similar episodes have also been reported from other railway stations in Bihar.