ALBAWABA - Indian officials confirmed that at least 18 were killed in a stampede at a railway station in the capital New Delhi on Saturday.
Reports revealed that the stampede happened when a large group of people rushed to catch trains to the world's largest religious gathering, AFP reported citing officials.
The Kumbh Mela religious festival attracts tens of millions of Hindus every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj. Many stampedes take place during this Hindu festival considering the large numbers that attend it, for instance in January at least 30 people died in another stampede in the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
The Kumbh Mela religious festival is taking place from Jan. 13 to Feb. 26, 2025.
"I can confirm 15 deaths at the hospital. They don't have any open injuries. Most (likely died from) hypoxia or maybe some blunt injury but that would only be confirmed after an autopsy," AFP said citing Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi.
Saxena added that about 11 others were injured in the stampede, with the majority in stable conditions and suffering "orthopaedic injuries".
