Railways denies media reports on RPF Inquiry into Delhi station stampede, calls it "wrong and misleading"

New Delhi [India], February 18 (ANI): Certain media reports on Tuesday quoting an RPF inquiry report on New Delhi railway station stampede incident were "wrong and misleading", said a statement Ministry of Railways.
A two-member high-level committee has already been set up by Northern Railway to investigate the incident. More than 100 individual statements are being collected by the committee, added the statement from Railways.
After receiving all such statements, the committee will conduct a thorough examination, including cross-questioning to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the incident. The inquiry report will be submitted by the committee.
It is hereby informed that there is no inquiry being conducted apart from the inquiry being conducted by the high level committee. Indian Railways urge media outlets to wait for the final report of the High-level committee in this regard. If there is any information that can help the high level committee in its inquiry process, please share it directly with the committee members, mentioned the statement from Indian Railways.
The stampede happened around 10 pm on Saturday when thousands of devotees were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, causing severe overcrowding at the station. The stampede claimed 18 lives leaving several injured.
Notably, after the incident Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Police were deployed on Monday at the New Delhi Railway station to manage the crowd situation.
CRP will also be cooperating with the Delhi Police for additional help, as per official sources. Inspection is being carried out at the station by senior offices of CRP.
Meanwhile, after the stampede incident at New Delhi station, the Ministry of Railways is planning to construct permanent holding areas at around 60 railway stations across the country, which are prone to crowd congestion.
As per sources of the ministry, this decision comes as part of a broader strategy to manage the large crowds that frequently gather at busy railway stations, ensuring smoother transit and reducing congestion-related issues.
According to sources, there are around 60 stations identified nationwide that experience persistent overcrowding. To address this, the Ministry of Railways will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies for real-time crowd monitoring and crisis management.These technologies will help regulate passenger movement, predict peak hours and implement immediate measures to prevent stampedes or other safety hazards. (ANI)