Tue Feb 18 01:36:51 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Station Stampede: No Conspiracy, Says Railway Minister; Crowd Control Measures Enhanced

**New Delhi, February 18, 2025** – Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ruled out any conspiracy in the stampede at New Delhi railway station on February 15th, which resulted in 18 deaths and 15 injuries. While five injured individuals remain hospitalized, Vaishnaw stated that there was no unusual surge in passenger numbers at the time of the incident.

A police investigation is underway, analyzing CCTV footage to reconstruct the events leading to the tragedy. The Minister attributed the incident to a combination of factors, including a potentially confusing announcement regarding a Prayagraj-bound train, which led to a misdirected movement of passengers on platform 14. The confusion, coupled with overcrowding on the stairs, triggered the stampede when a passenger fell, causing a domino effect.

To prevent future incidents, the Ministry is implementing enhanced crowd control measures. This includes establishing designated holding areas at 60 high-traffic stations, developing a new crowd management manual, and increasing passenger awareness campaigns. The Minister emphasized that the railway system’s capacity at New Delhi station is 48,000 passengers, and while ticket sales on the day of the stampede showed a slight increase compared to usual numbers, they did not exceed the station’s capacity. The Minister highlighted the successful management of large passenger volumes during the recent Kumbh Mela, where over 12,500 trains were operated, exceeding the previous record.

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