After stampede, New Delhi railway station restricts sale of platform tickets for a week

The Railways have decided to stop the sale of platform tickets at the New Delhi railway station from 4 pm to 11 pm for a week, a Railway Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

This follows the incident of overcrowding leading to a stampede at the railway station on Saturday night, resulting in the loss of 18 lives.

"In view of the crowd management, it has been decided to stop the sale of platform tickets at the New Delhi railway station from 4 pm to 11 pm for the next one week," the ministry spokesperson said in a message.

Special trains being operated by the Railways for the Mahakumbh have been witnessing a massive crowd as the festival is approaching its end (February 26).

The Delhi Police have deployed six inspector-rank officers at the railway station to enhance crowd management and ensure passenger safety.

These officers, drawn from different districts, were specifically chosen for their experience handling operations at the railway station, one of the busiest transit hubs in the country.

With the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage driving an increased influx of passengers, authorities anticipate the surge to persist in the coming days. The deployment is part of an effort to streamline crowd movement and avert any untoward incidents. With inputs from agencies