Stampede in New Delhi: A timeline of events from midnight to morning

At least 18 people were killed after a stampede broke out at 10 pm on Saturday night at the New Delhi Railway Station. Eyewitnesses told Newslaundry the stampede took place when passengers were waiting to board a train to Prayagraj to attend the Kumbh Mela. Some said a Railways announcement said the train would arrive at a different platform, and chaos broke out when passengers began to run.

As initial news reports began to trickle in, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor tweeted about an “unfortunate and tragic incident of loss of lives and injuries due to disorder & stampede”. He later edited his tweet to simply an “unfortunate incident”.

The Railways also initially alleged there hadn’t been a stampede at all. But when this reporter reached Loknayak Jaiprakash hospital in Delhi hours later, we learned at least 15 people had died. The media was barred from entering the hospital as security forces and barricades were deployed outside. 

At Lady Hardinge hospital, we learned three people had died – a total of at least 18 casualties, of which 11 are women. Most of the casualties are from Bihar and Delhi. 

We spoke to eyewitnesses, the injured, and relatives of the deceased to piece together what happened at the railway station and beyond from midnight to 10 am.

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