At least 18 people lost their lives during a stampede at a railway station in India's capital late Saturday. The chaos erupted as crowds scrambled to catch trains heading to the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, drawing tens of millions of Hindu devotees every 12 years to Prayagraj. 

Officials reported that the stampede occurred amidst the rush for travel to the ongoing event, which is set to conclude on February 26. The incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with this massive pilgrimage, which has a history of crowd-related disasters. Just last month, a similar tragedy struck at the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, claiming at least 30 lives.

Dr. Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, confirmed 15 fatalities at the hospital, stating that the victims did not exhibit open injuries. "Most likely they died from hypoxia or maybe some blunt injury, but that will only be confirmed after an autopsy," she told AFP.