New Delhi station stampede: Railways halts platform ticket sales from 4 pm to 11 pm for a week

New Delhi stampede

Two days after a deadly stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, authorities have decided to implement time restrictions on the sale of platform tickets to better manage crowds. Starting Monday, platform tickets will not be sold between 4 PM and 11 PM for a week, as confirmed by a Railways official.

"This decision has been made to enhance crowd management," stated the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway.

This move follows an inspection by a two-member committee formed by the Railway Ministry to investigate the incident. The officials visited platform 14—where the Prayagraj Express was stationed—to secure CCTV footage for their inquiry. The stampede occurred on Saturday night between 9 PM and 9:20 PM as a surge of passengers, including those waiting for the delayed Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, led to chaos.

The tragic event took place amid the Maha Kumbh rush and resulted in 18 fatalities and several injuries.

According to the Indian Express, the station typically experiences around 7,000 general class ticket bookings daily between 6 PM and 8 PM. However, on the day of the stampede, over 9,600 tickets were booked during that timeframe, which contributed to the overwhelming crowd pressure.

Also Read: Stations shut, trains cancelled: Railway officials struggle to manage surge of pilgrims at Maha Kumbh