At least 18 killed in stampede at New Delhi train station ahead of festival

At least 18 people were killed in a deadly crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station on Saturday night as thousands of passengers attempted to board trains bound for the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, local media reported.

According to Delhi police, the stampede occurred around 10 p.m. and claimed the lives of nine women and five children. Deputy Commissioner KPS Malhotra told ANI news that delays to two train services, combined with a massive influx of travelers, caused severe overcrowding, leading to chaos that spiraled out of control for 10 to 15 minutes.

The tragedy comes just weeks after a similar stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela itself left dozens dead. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying he was "distressed" by the loss of life, while Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that emergency teams had evacuated passengers and restored order at the station.

CNN contributed to this article.