The government has provided financial assistance totaling ₹2.01 crore to 33 families affected by the February 15 stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
“In the instant case, an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh has been paid to the next of kin of each deceased, ₹2.50 lakh each to the grievously injured, and ₹1 lakh each to those with minor injuries,” Vaishnaw said in a written response.
The tragic incident occurred in the evening of February 15, amid a massive rush of devotees heading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. While Vaishnaw did not disclose the exact number of casualties, officials earlier reported that the stampede resulted in 18 deaths and 15 injuries.
High-Level Inquiry Ordered
Vaishnaw confirmed that a high-level inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident. He also responded to questions regarding railway facilities and infrastructure upgrades implemented to accommodate devotees during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Railway Infrastructure Upgrades for Maha Kumbh
According to Vaishnaw, infrastructure enhancement projects worth over ₹5,000 crore have been completed in the Prayagraj region. These include doubling railway lines, constructing road underpasses and overbridges, and upgrading station facilities.
More than 17,300 trains operated between January 13 and February 28 to manage the increased passenger load, transporting around 4.24 crore passengers. The number included over 3,000 special trains—significantly higher than the 694 trains operated during the 2019 Kumbh. Additionally, a Ring Rail service was introduced, connecting religious hubs like Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Chitrakoot on a daily basis.
Enhanced Passenger Amenities
To accommodate the influx of pilgrims, Prayagraj station underwent significant improvements, including expanded circulating areas, additional parking spaces, better accessibility for Divyangjan (differently-abled individuals), new signages, drinking water booths, Ashray Kendras (shelters), toilets, and foot overbridges.
Vaishnaw also highlighted the introduction of Yatri Suvidha Kendras at Prayagraj Junction and Prayagraj Chheoki stations, which offered essential services such as wheelchairs, luggage trolleys, hotel and taxi bookings, baby milk, and medicines.
Efforts to Improve Ticketing and Passenger Safety
To prevent delays, ticketing capacity was expanded to issue up to 10 lakh tickets per day. A four-stage power backup system was implemented to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. First-aid booths and medical observation rooms were also set up at various stations, and a toll-free railway helpline was made available for passenger assistance.
For better guidance, multilingual leaflets in 12 languages were distributed to assist pilgrims. However, the Maha Kumbh 2025 preparations faced challenges, with 22 trains reportedly sustaining damage during the event.
Sources By Agencies