New Delhi: The Railways Ministry has decided to set up permanent holding areas at 60 most crowded railway stations across the country in corrective measures following the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) on Saturday night that left 18 people dead and many others injured, sources said on Monday.
The decision comes in the wake of the deadly stampede and unprecedented rush at railway stations across the country with the influx of devotees visiting the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
Besides, the Railways has ordered a probe into the Delhi stampede and assured of taking action against those found responsible.
The ministry will run campaigns at major railway stations across the country and seek suggestions from passengers, porters, and shopkeepers regarding railway services and the areas of improvement in crowd control. The ground situation will be assessed and measures will be implemented based on the feedback.
These holding zones will be used to accommodate passengers before they can move to their respective platforms in the event of a crowd surge to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, the Railways has suspended the sale of platform tickets at the NDLS while also deploying CRPF jawans to manage the crowd heading to the Maha Kumbh.
In Prayagraj, the Sangam railway station has bee temporarily shut to control the rush while the police are also stopping returning to the nearby railway stations by road.
Delhi stampede
A day after a tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station claimed 18 lives, the station remained overcrowded on Sunday, with thousands of passengers struggling to board trains amid heavy rush.
The stampede on Saturday occurred around 10 PM when a surge of passengers, confused by a mix-up in train announcements, rushed toward platform 16 via a narrow stairway.
Despite additional measures, the massive influx of passengers—many of them Maha Kumbh pilgrims travelling to Triveni Sangam—continued, making it challenging for authorities to manage the situation.
Foot-over bridges, staircases, and platforms were packed with anxious travellers, many unaware of special train schedules, leading to further confusion. Long queues at water stalls added to the chaos, while passengers carrying heavy luggage found it difficult to move through the dense crowds.
