Following a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, the sale of platform tickets has been suspended for the next week from 4 PM to 11 PM. The stampede, which claimed 18 lives and left several injured, occurred following a surge of passengers attempting to board trains for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Railway authorities ordered a high-level investigation into the incident, which was triggered by chaos over a platform change announcement.
The increase in passengers occurred within just 10 minutes, creating chaos at the station. Eighteen people lost their lives in the stampede, including nine women, four men, and five children. Over a dozen were injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment. The eldest victim was 79 years old, while the youngest was a seven-year-old girl. Delhi Fire Service and four fire tenders were deployed to the station. Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and Delhi Police officials assisted in evacuating injured and unconscious passengers, who were then taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to the media reports, the crowd surge was triggered by the delay of two trains, leading to an unexpected rush on the platforms. Some even alleged that a last-minute platform change led to chaos. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a high-level probe, forming a two-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee includes senior officials from Northern Railways, the Principal Chief Security Commissioner of RPF, and the Principal Chief Commercial Manager. Additionally, an inquest has been initated by the police.
The Ministry of Railways has announced financial compensation for the victims:
• ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased
• ₹2.5 lakh for those with serious injuries
• ₹1 lakh for passengers with minor injuries
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