Rail Ministry Probing Conspiracy, Fake News Angle in New Delhi Station Stampede: Union Minister

Rail Ministry Probing Conspiracy, Fake News Angle in New Delhi Station Stampede: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said investigations were on by the Railway Ministry to check if any conspiracy or fake news had caused the incident of stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, which saw the tragic death of 18 persons and several others injured.

"It is a very sad incident. We and our government are very sad," he said.

"The Rail Ministry is investigating this incident to understand if any conspiracy or fake news was propagated that caused such an incident... The Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is extremely capable of his position..." Majumdar told ANI on Sunday.

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He continued with the lines of inquiry being investigated by Indian Railways, which appears to have also developed an angle of conspiracy.

The hearing into the February 15 stampede in which 18 persons were killed and many injured at the New Delhi railway station has now been held by a two-member committee that has already been formed.

The committee consists of Northern Railway's Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) Narsingh Deo and Principal Chief Safety Commissioner (PCSC) Pankaj Gangwar, the railway stated on Sunday.

The railways further mentioned that the committee constituted a High-Level Inquiry (HAG) into the incident. To that end, said committee has directed that all video footage securing from CCTV of Railway Station be connected with the inquiry.

A stampede around 10 p.m. on Saturday at the New Delhi Railway Station resulted in the death of 18 individuals in a crush of passengers, all making their way to Prayagraj in great numbers to attend the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival. The station was thus too crowed.

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The deceased were identified as Aaha Devi, 79, Pinky Devi, 41, Sheela Devi, 50, Vyom, 25, Poonam Devi, 40, Lalita Devi, 35, Suruchi, 11; Krishna Devi, 40, Vijay Sah, 15, Neeraj, 12, Shanti Devi, 40, Pooja Kumar, 8, Sangeeta Malik and Poonam, both aged 34, Mamta Jha, 40, Riya Singh, 7, Baby Kumari, 24, and Manoj, 47.

Indian Railways has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of those deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those who suffered serious injuries, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

As reported by the Northern Railway CPRO immediately to ANI, "Such unfortunate incidence happened at New Delhi Railway Station when a passenger lost balance on the stairs leading to platforms 14 and 15 and in that process other passengers slipped and were injured."

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