AT LEAST 18 people have died in a horror stampede at a train station in India.

Thousands of passengers are said to have been involved in the deadly New Delhi tragedy as they were trying to board a train on the way to a religious festival.

Terrified witnesses said travellers were told to change platforms at the New Delhi Railway station – quickly causing a surge of panicked locals.

Two trains were also delayed in the minutes before the incident, according to officials.

This left those waiting to board a train to the festival in Prayagraj caught up in a frantic push which resulted in dozens being crushed.

Fourteen of the victims were women, according to local media.

Delhi’s caretaker chief minister, Atishi, initially said among those dead included three children.

Those killed and badly injured were rushed to the capital’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital, Atishi added.

Local shopkeeper Nikhil Kumar saw the chaos unfold.

He said: “The crowd went out of control and no one could control it.”

The stampede happened at around 8pm local time on Saturday evening as passengers were heading towards Maha Kumbh Hindu festival in Prayagraj.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was left “distressed by the stampede”.

He posted a statement on X, saying: “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones.

“I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery.”

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said an investigation has been launched to find out the cause of the deadly stampede.

Last month, India was rocked by another major crowd stampede which left at least 30 dead.

Dozens more were injured after carnage erupted as thousands surged towards a river at the Kumbh Mela.

Tens of millions were expected to gather to take a holy dip during the six-week Hindu festival.