꧒For almost a month, a family in Sangam Vihar had been eagerly preparing for their trip to Mahakhumb. The much-anticipated trip turned into tragedy when 38 year old Pinki Devi lost her life in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday.
🎉Recounting the events Pinki Devi's 14-year-old daughter, Pihu Sharma, said in a trembling voice, "We had been preparing to go to Mahakumbh for the past month, along with my mother, who was very excited about the trip.''
ဣPinki was among the 18 people who tragically lost their lives in a stampede which took place on Saturday night.
🅺According to her family, inadequate security and administrative arrangements led to the devastating incident.
💃"This tragic accident happened because of the administration's carelessness. They didn't provide enough security at the station, which led to the disaster," says Nitu Sharma.
🌃Thirteen family members, including Pinki Devi, were going to Prayagraj for Mahakumbh Mela. Six members were caught in the stampede, while Pinki succumbed to her injuries. She has left behind two children—a son and a daughter.
Family Recalls Deadly Stampede
♊"Was this the age for Pinki to leave us?" says Nitu Sharma, showing a picture of her sister-in-law Pinki Devi, dressed in a vibrant red saree.
ꦬThe family says they received a call at 8:30 pm and rushed to LNJP Hospital.
▨"On Saturday, at 8:30 pm, we received a distressing call, urging us to rush to LNJP Hospital immediately. A stampede had broken out at New Delhi Railway Station, leaving Pinki critically injured, while several other family members also suffered injuries," says Nitu.
💙By the time arrived, Pinki had succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
꧙"Thirteen members of our family were travelling to Prayagraj, including six children and three women," Nitu adds.
🦩Seema Sharma, Pinki's sister who witnessed the stampede, recounted the chaotic scene. "As we reached the station, we were confronted with a massive crowd. Our tickets were confirmed, but we were gripped by anxiety, unsure of how we would manage to board the train amidst this crowd, she said.
𝐆"An announcement was made, but we couldn't even hear it properly before the stampede broke out. Amid this chaos, I, Pinki, Sarita, and the other 6 children fell down. The crowd surged over us, and it was only because of the men with us that we were pulled out. One by one we got the children out, and then we tried to pull out Pinki, but the uncontrolled crowd continued to trample over her. After a struggle, we finally managed to pull her out and rushed to the LNJP hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, we were devastated to learn that Pinki had stopped breathing," Seema recounts.
Outlook India Team In LNJP Hospital
ꦓRight after the stampede victims were admitted to the hospital, the premises were sealed, barring entry to media. A large number of police personnel were deployed outside the main gate of LNJP hospital. No one was allowed to enter the hospital.
ജThe employees as well as police personnel deflected most questions and refused to answer any queries.
ꦛSimilar scenes were seen near the mortuary where the bodies of the victims were kept.
💛The staff who were given strict instructions not to talk to the media, however, did divulge a few details.
🔥A mortuary attendant, Ramesh (name changed), said that approximately 10 bodies had been removed from the mortuary so far. However, the attendant declined to disclose whether any additional bodies were present.
Inside The LNJP Emergency Building
༺All entrances to the emergency building of LNJG were closed, with two security guards stationed at the gate.
🐽An attendant, Mohan (name changed), told Outlook India that the scores of patients were brought into the emergency, and their treatment was going on. However, I could not give any estimated number. Outlook also could not independently confirm the numbers.
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𓄧He further said that the patients have also been referred from here to other hospitals for better treatment.
♓The bodies of the 18 victims—four minors (aged 7-15), 10 women, and four men—were sent to different hospitals in the Capital for post-mortem: 10 to LNJP, five to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, and three to Lady Hardinge Hospital.
Statement From RML Hospital
ꦗWhile LNJP Hospital has not issued an official statement, Pulin Gupta, spokesperson and faculty member at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, confirmed that the hospital's mortuary has received five bodies.
🐠He says, "The bodies, four female and one male, were transferred from LNJP Hospital for post-mortem examination. No injured patients were admitted to RML Hospital. One of the deceased females has been identified as Ramesh Mina."
