Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday addressed media queries regarding the stampede that occurred at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, ruling out any conspiracy behind the tragic event. He clarified that there was no extraordinary rush at the station during the time of the incident.
“No conspiracy appears to be involved at this moment,” Vaishnaw said while interacting with the press at Rail Bhawan. He also confirmed that the situation at the station did not indicate an abnormal crowd size during the time the stampede occurred.
The Railway Minister dismissed suggestions that a platform change announcement was responsible for the incident, stating that the inquiry committee is thoroughly investigating all aspects of the situation.
Ticket Sales and Platform Confusion Contributing Factors
Railway officials provided additional details on the incident, confirming that the total capacity of New Delhi Railway Station’s 16 platforms is 48,000 passengers, with each platform capable of holding 3,000. On February 15, the day of the incident, the sale of unreserved tickets between 6 pm and 8 pm stood at 12,208, an increase compared to the usual 9,600 tickets sold during the same time period. Between 8 pm and 10 pm, 7,600 unreserved tickets were sold, while the usual number is around 8,900.
An official revealed that a Prayagraj Special train was scheduled to depart from platform number 12 at 7:15 pm, and due to the rise in ticket sales, another special train was planned to depart from the same platform at 8:50 pm. An announcement was made around 8:30 pm regarding the Prayagraj Special at platform 12. Some passengers, who were waiting on platform 14 for the Prayagraj Express, misunderstood the announcement and started heading toward platform 12.
As passengers moved toward the platform, one person carrying a heavy load became unstable while climbing the stairs, causing them to fall and trigger a chain reaction, leading to the stampede.
No Extraordinary Crowds, Minister Explains
Vaishnaw further explained that the “war room” set up at Rail Bhawan to monitor live feeds from various stations, including New Delhi Railway Station, confirmed that there was no extraordinary crowd at the station. He emphasized that the railway’s efforts to manage large crowds have been successful, especially in comparison to the previous Kumbh Mela, where only 4,000 trains were operated. This year, the railway had planned 13,000 trains, with 12,583 already operated, Vaishnaw noted.
“No country in the world faces such a large-scale mobilization. Railway officials have been working tirelessly, day and night. Managing such a huge crowd is extremely difficult,” the Minister stated, adding that 2.9 crore devotees have traveled by train for the Kumbh Mela so far.
Ex-Gratia Payment Justified in Cash
Addressing questions regarding the compensation for the deceased and injured, Vaishnaw justified the practice of disbursing ex-gratia amounts in cash, explaining that it is a standard procedure in crisis situations. “People cannot access their bank accounts during such emergencies. Aggrieved families need immediate cash for medical expenses, ambulances, and other urgent needs,” he said, adding that cash payments are common practice worldwide in such circumstances.
When questioned about circulars limiting cash payments over Rs 50,000, Vaishnaw clarified that the limit applies to normal situations, not extraordinary cases like the stampede incident.
The Railway Minister’s statements aimed to reassure the public and clarify that while the incident is being thoroughly investigated, it was not caused by any extraordinary crowding or conspiracy, and the railway ministry continues to manage the vast transportation needs with dedication and care.
