The incident occurred between 9 pm and 9.20 pm, as platforms 14 and 15 saw an overwhelming surge in passengers. A sudden rush to board trains bound for Prayagraj, coupled with last-minute platform changes for delayed trains, led to panic and chaos, resulting in the deadly stampede. ANI quoted police officials stating that the situation spiraled out of control when the realization set in that not all passengers would be able to board the crowded trains.

Reports revealed that ticket sales during the peak hours of 6 pm to 8 pm had seen an unusual spike. While an average of 7,000 tickets are sold daily in this window, over 9,600 general-class tickets were booked on the day of the incident. Experts believe the railway administration could have preempted the crisis by analyzing these numbers and preparing adequate crowd control measures in advance.

Call for Accountability

Following the disaster, the Congress party demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, blaming the tragedy on "mismanagement" and lack of preparedness. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate criticized the absence of security forces at the station and accused railway authorities of failing to regulate the influx of passengers effectively.

In response, the Railway Ministry has deployed additional security personnel, including eight companies of paramilitary forces such as the Rapid Action Force, to manage crowds at the station until the conclusion of Maha Kumbh. Furthermore, a two-member high-level inquiry committee—comprising Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Northern Railway—has been formed to investigate the cause of the stampede. Authorities have also secured all video footage of the incident for review.

Indian Railways has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries. Meanwhile, hospital officials at Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital confirmed that among the deceased were three children.

Current Situation at NDLS

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity at the Railway Board, assured the public that normalcy has been restored at the station. Special trains were arranged to accommodate stranded passengers, and train movement has resumed without further disruptions.

The tragedy has raised serious concerns about crowd management at railway stations. The failure to address the ticket-buy hike was a significant oversight, holding both the railway minister and the management committee accountable. Chaos at railway stations has become increasingly frequent over the past month, with incidents of stone pelting and passengers throwing water at those seated inside trains. Kumbh, the largest human gathering, which was widely advertised and promoted, should have been better managed to ensure crowd control. The stampede at Kumbh remains fresh in memory, and such incidents continue to expose the shortcomings of the authorities in handling public safety.