At least 15 dead in crush at New Delhi train station as crowds head for religious festival, Indian media reports
At least 15 people, including 10 women and three children, were killed in a crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station Saturday as passengers tried to board trains heading to the world's largest religious gathering, according to Indian media.
Deputy commissioner of Delhi police KPS Malhotra told India's ANI news that the crush took place late Saturday night, when delays to two train services and an influx of passengers led to overcrowding.
He said the 'situation went out of control for a brief spell of 10 to 15 minutes.'
Many of those in the crowds are thought to have been heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, in the Indian city of Prayagraj.
The news comes just weeks after dozens of people were killed in a crowd crush at the gathering itself.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was 'distressed' at the latest deaths.
'My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected,' Modi wrote on X Sunday.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways of India, said on X that he was 'deeply saddened by the unfortunate' crowd crush.
'My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident,' he wrote.
Vaishnaw said four trains had been used to evacuate people from the station. Police were on the scene and the situation was now under control, he added.
The festival is considered the world's largest peaceful gathering of people. Over six weeks, a staggering 400 million people are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela, or the festival of the Sacred Pitcher, on the banks of Prayagraj.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Britain's biggest steelmaker warns it faces Trump tariffs hit
The Indian owner of the Port Talbot steelworks has warned that a carve-out from Donald Trump's tariffs is 'critical' to its business. Tata Steel's UK operations are at risk of falling foul of American import tariffs even if a pending agreement between London and Washington is formalised, because of a reliance on steel made in India and elsewhere. This is because of American demands that UK steel products can only be exempt from tariffs if they used metal that was 'melted and poured' domestically. Ministers are trying to secure an exemption for Tata, which is Britain's largest steel producer, but the business otherwise faces being hit by Mr Trump's 50pc tariffs on foreign steel. The company closed the last blast furnaces at Port Talbot, south Wales, last year and is currently in the process of building an electric arc furnace at the site, which will recycle domestically-sourced scrap metal. In the meantime, Tata has resorted to importing steel melted in India and Europe for processing into products that are then shipped onwards to America. The temporary measures mean the company risks running afoul of Mr Trump's 50pc tariffs on foreign steel, which are currently scheduled to be imposed on the UK from July 9. British steel products already face tariffs of 25pc, like those from much of the rest of the world, but the trade deal in principle struck by Mr Trump and Sir Keir Starmer would see the tax rate fall to zero. However, despite four weeks of talks, the deal has yet to be implemented. When Mr Trump imposed 50pc steel tariffs on the rest of the world, he gave Britain a reprieve until July 9 – and negotiators are now racing to conclude something before then. Even this poses a problem for Tata, as the deal's framework stipulates that steel products sent from the UK to the US must use steel that was 'melted and poured' domestically to qualify for tariff relief. The Government is seeking to obtain a temporary carve-out for Tata and has reportedly said it is confident of success, but the warning from Tata signalled nervousness within the company on Friday. It is understood that being hit by 50pc tariffs would force Tata to either try to pass some costs on to customers or absorb them itself. If it could not absorb them, production cuts may have to be considered. Rajesh Nair, the chief executive of Tata Steel UK, said: 'Tata Steel UK will need to import steel substrate until Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking is operational in Port Talbot from late 2027 onwards. 'It is therefore critical for our business that melted and poured in the UK is not a requirement to access the steel quotas in any future trade deal. 'Even though we are not currently melting steel in the UK, we remain the largest steel producer in the country and our mills continue to transform imported steel coil and slab into high-value, specialist products which are not available from US producers and are therefore essential to our US customers. 'We urge the Government to secure a deal as soon as possible, and we would be happy to provide the US government with any needed assurances on the provenance and processing of the steel we supply.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
G7 Invite for Modi Signals India's Growing Weight for Democratic Alliance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In a significant diplomatic step with implications for global alliances, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he will attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this month, after being invited by Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed the invitation was made in a call with Modi. Why It Matters Modi's attendance at the G7, of which India is not a member, signals an improvement in the relationship between India and Canada after a very rocky period and came after reports that no invitation would be forthcoming for Modi this year, triggering criticism of Modi from his political opponents. India's association with the G7 group of industrialized democracies underlines its strategic importance for the United States and its allies at a time of growing geopolitical polarization. While India is the world's largest democracy, it is also part of the BRICS alliance alongside Western rivals China and Russia, making the world's most populous nation a key pivot point in global affairs. Russia was excluded from what was formerly the G8 in 2014 after annexing Crimea. What To Know Prime Minister Modi took to X on Friday to announce he had received and accepted a personal invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Modi posted: "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit." The Carney-Modi call marks the highest-level dialogue between the two countries since ties soured under his predecessor Justin Trudeau's government. President of India Narendra Damodardas Modi is welcomed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy President of India Narendra Damodardas Modi is welcomed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia on June 14, 2024 in Fasano, Italy Photo by Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis via Getty Images Carney's new administration appears to have shifted to a more pragmatic tone: prioritizing trade, diaspora ties, and democratic values over lingering espionage-related disputes. India, for its part, views reengagement as a sign of Western acknowledgment of its strategic indispensability. India-Canada relations have been in the deep freeze since September 2023, primarily stemming from Canadian allegations—vigorously denied by India—linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader. Canada's intelligence service had also identified India as one of the countries that could attempt to meddle in Candian elections. What People Are Saying Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Office: "The two leaders discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links. Importantly, there was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns. Danish Singh, president of the WSO Canadian Sikh group: "For Sikhs in Canada, this is a betrayal, not just of our community, but of core Canadian values. Prime Minister Carney's decision to invite Narendra Modi." What Happens Next Modi's attendance at the G7 will mark another sign of India's increasing prominence on the world stage and in an alliance with global democracies that can potentially counter the rise of autocratic powers including China and Russia.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
India's Modi says he has received invitation for G7 summit in Canada
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to meeting his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during the Group of Seven summit, after the latter invited him to the gathering over a phone call on Friday. India is not a part of the grouping but can be invited as a guest to its annual gathering, which will be held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15 to 17. "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister (Carney)...thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this forward to our meeting at the Summit," Modi said in a post on X. The invitation suggests that both sides want to rebuild ties, which have nosedived in the last two years after Canada accused India of involvement undefined in a Sikh separatist leader's murder, and of attempting to interfere in the country's 2019 and 2021 elections. New Delhi denied both allegations. Modi also stated in his post that India and Canada would work together "with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests". India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner and Canada is the biggest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India. Ottawa holds the rotational G7 presidency this year.
