India, Feb. 17 -- Within hours of a deadly stampede that killed at least 18 people on Saturday night, New Delhi Railway Station was a scene of desperation and chaos. Sirens wailed through the night as ambulances and police vehicles rushed to the station, while frantic families searched for their missing loved ones amid the overwhelming crowd.

By 12.30am, over a dozen ambulances, two dozen police vehicles, and hundreds of security personnel were stationed in and around the station. The entry and exit gates were heavily guarded, and there was an increased security presence at platforms 12 to 16. Ticket counters were shut, and railway announcements were suspended until after 1.30am, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Survivors described the h...