Railways Enforces Safety Measures, No platform ticket since stampede

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/NEW DELHI

A deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday evening claimed the lives of 18 people and left 15 others injured, prompting the Railway Ministry to implement strict safety measures to prevent future incidents.

In response, the Railways announced that no platform tickets will be issued at New Delhi Railway Station until next week. Additionally, all special trains to Prayagraj will now operate exclusively from Platform 16, directing passengers to use the Ajmeri Gate side for entry and exit. Regular trains will continue to run from their designated platforms to prevent overcrowding.

Cause of the Stampede

According to Delhi Police, confusion over similar train names triggered the tragic incident. The announcement of Prayagraj Special’s arrival at Platform 16 caused panic, as Prayagraj Express was already stationed at Platform 14. Passengers rushing to the wrong platform led to chaotic overcrowding. Further compounding the situation, three out of four trains heading to Prayagraj were delayed, adding to the unexpected rush.

Inquiry Underway

The Railway Ministry has formed a two-member high-level committee to investigate the incident. The panel includes Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM), Northern Railway, and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Safety Commissioner (PCSC). The committee has ordered the securing of video footage from the railway station to aid in the probe.

Background

The tragedy occurred at 10 p.m. on Saturday, as lakhs of devotees were traveling to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh 2025 festival, leading to overwhelming crowds at the station. The Railway Ministry has assured that corrective measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The victims of the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station have been identified as Aaha Devi (79), Pinky Devi (41), Sheela Devi (50), Vyom (25), Poonam Devi (40), Lalita Devi (35), Suruchi (11), Krishna Devi (40), Vijay Sah (15), Neeraj (12), Shanti Devi (40), Pooja Kumar (8), Sangeeta Malik (34), Poonam (34), Mamta Jha (40), Riya Singh (7), Baby Kumari (24), and Manoj (47).

Following the incident, Indian Railways has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased. Additionally, ₹2.5 lakh will be provided to those seriously injured, while ₹1 lakh will be given to those with minor injuries.