A deadly crush at New Delhi Railway Station has resulted in the deaths of approximately 18 people and left at least 10 others injured.

Thousands of passengers reportedly packed into the station on Saturday night, attempting to board delayed trains.

According to a list released by officials, the victims included four children and 10 women.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, stating that his thoughts were "with all those who have lost their loved ones."

India frequently experiences crowd crush incidents, particularly at religious gatherings, festivals, and public spaces due to overcrowding.

This tragedy follows another deadly crush just weeks ago at the Kumbh Mela religious festival in northern India, where 30 people lost their lives as millions of Hindus gathered to bathe in sacred river waters on one of the holy days of the six-week event.

Witnesses told BBC Hindi that an overwhelming crowd had gathered at New Delhi Railway Station, with many passengers traveling to and from the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Officials reported that two trains were delayed at the station, while a third, bound for Prayagraj, was waiting to depart.

Ruby Devi, one of the travelers, described the scene as so overcrowded that she was unable to enter the station.

Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi died in the crush, recalled how the crowd became "uncontrollable" as he attempted to board the Prayagraj Express.

Another traveler, Dharmendra Singh, told India's PTI news agency that the station was more crowded than he had ever seen before.

"In front of me, six or seven women were carried away on stretchers," he said.

KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), stated that authorities were investigating the cause of the incident.

"This occurred due to delays in two arriving trains, which led to a surge in the number of people gathering at the station," he explained.

Opposition leaders have criticized the government, blaming poor administration for the disaster.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India's parliament, posted on X that "considering the large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station."