Guwahati: The Railways has formed a two-member high-level administrative grade committee to investigate the stampede that occurred on Saturday night at New Delhi Railway Station.
The committee of Northern Railways’ Principal Chief Commercial Manager Narsingh Deo and Principal Chief Security Commissioner Pankaj Gangwar will investigate the stampede that claimed 18 lives, including four children and a septuagenarian woman.
The tragedy, which took place at the station’s Ajmeri Gate end, exposed critical failures in crowd management on a night when officials sold 7,600 unreserved tickets in just two hours for trains heading to Prayagraj.
The stampede was triggered by a sudden surge in the crowd of passengers waiting to board trains to Prayagraj at New Delhi Railway Station.
Platforms 14 and 15 witnessed a significant increase in passengers, as many people rushed to the station in large numbers to travel to the ongoing Mahakumbh mela in Prayagraj.
The overwhelming crowd led to chaos, ultimately resulting in the tragic stampede.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries.
Of 15 injured passengers, 11 were discharged from hospital, while three remained in serious condition.
