Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that at least 22 trains were damaged due to overcrowding during Maha Kumbh 2025. The large gathering of pilgrims caused chaos at railway stations, leading to incidents of vandalism and stone-pelting.

Vaishnaw also addressed the February 15 stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, calling it an “unfortunate” incident. The stampede resulted in 18 deaths and 15 injuries. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause.

On that day, around 49,000 general tickets were sold at the station—13,000 more than the daily average. To manage the extra passengers, five special trains were operated. Compensation has been provided to victims and their families: ₹10 lakh for each deceased, ₹2.50 lakh for grievously injured, and ₹1 lakh for mildly injured. A total of ₹2.01 crore has been distributed to affected families.

During Maha Kumbh, 13,667 trains transported 12 to 15 crore pilgrims. The railway department ensured unreserved tickets were available through multiple channels, including mobile apps and vending machines. The government continues to review measures to improve crowd management and prevent such incidents in the future.

Source: Hindustan Times