New Delhi railway station stampede: Hospital confirms several deaths due to Traumatic Asphyxia – What it is and how to help

The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station has claimed 18 lives and left many injured. Five of the 18 victims of the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station died due to traumatic asphyxia, the RML Hospital said on Sunday. "No injured were brought to RML Hospital. We received five dead bodies from LNJP for postmortem. Four of them were females and one a male," a senior doctor said.

The LNJP handed over the bodies to the RML Hospital which conducted a post-mortem examination on them, it said.

The incident occurred on Saturday night, after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down from a footover bridge. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have condoled the loss of lives in the stampede.




What is traumatic asphyxia?Traumatic asphyxia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when intense pressure is applied to the chest or upper body, preventing normal breathing and blood circulation. This is often seen in situations like stampede where a person is trapped under a crowd.

The sudden compression forces blood backward from the chest to the upper body, leading to cyanosis or bluish purple discoloration of the face, bulging or bloodshot eyes due to increased pressure in the head and complete respiratory failure.

If you see someone with traumatic asphyxia symptoms please take quick action as your promptness can save one's life.

• Call ambulance
• If the person is conscious, help them stay calm and encourage slow breathing.
• If they are not breathing or have no pulse, begin CPR immediately (30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths). In videos of the New Delhi railway station stampede that are being circulated on social media it can be seen people are giving CPR to those lying unconscious.
• If there is a suspected spinal injury, avoid moving them unless absolutely necessary.
• If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position (on their side) to prevent choking.
• If they show symptoms of shock like pale, cold, rapid breathing, weak or rapid pulse and confusion, lay them down, elevate their legs slightly, and keep them warm with a blanket.

(With inputs from PTI)