New Delhi: The tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that claimed 18 lives and injured over a dozen was triggered by a passenger dropping his luggage on an overcrowded foot-over-bridge, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament on Friday.
The incident occurred on the night of February 15, amid heavy rush due to the Maha Kumbh Mela. Passengers, many headed to Prayagraj, were navigating between platforms 14 and 16 when a chain reaction of panic and collapse ensued.
The minister, responding to a written question by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, said a high-level inquiry committee had identified the falling headload as the primary cause of the tragedy.
“One passenger lost their balance after dropping luggage while descending the stairs on platform 15. That caused people behind to stumble, leading to a stampede,” Vaishnaw said during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha.
The Railway Minister further explained that unusually high footfall — compounded by delays and platform confusion — had led to serious overcrowding. More than 7,600 general tickets were issued from New Delhi station that day, with around 1,500 sold per hour during peak evening hours.
Sequence of Chaos
Multiple trains headed to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were delayed due to operational issues, and two different Prayagraj-bound trains were allotted adjacent platforms. The confusion reportedly prompted thousands of passengers to move en masse across the footbridge and narrow staircases, resulting in a crush when the incident occurred around 9:30 PM.
Eyewitnesses said people began toppling over each other as panic spread, and cries for help were drowned out by the chaotic rush. Emergency services reached the spot about 40 minutes later.
Compensation and Accountability
Following the incident, the Indian Railways announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
A two-member inquiry panel comprising senior railway officials Pankaj Gangwar and Narsingh Deo was formed to investigate the causes. CCTV footage and station logs have been secured for review.
‘It was preventable disaster’
The tragedy sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who alleged negligence and poor crowd management by the authorities. “This was a preventable disaster,” several MPs said, demanding structural upgrades and better safety protocols.
In response, the Railways has initiated fresh guidelines for crowd control at major stations. These include enhanced coordination between local administration and railway police, improved signage, real-time passenger updates, and designated holding areas during festival periods.
