A day after a tragic stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station claimed at least 18 lives and left several injured, the Railways Ministry has launched an investigation to determine if "fake news" or misinformation played a role in triggering the chaos.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday stated, "The Rail Ministry is investigating this incident to understand if any conspiracy or fake news was propagated that caused such an incident. Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is extremely capable of handling the situation."

Tightened Security Amid Passenger Rush

Security has been ramped up at the station, with Delhi Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and Government Railway Police (GRP) deploying additional personnel to control the rush.

"We have set up barricades, intensified patrolling, and deployed quick reaction teams to prevent any further incidents. CCTV surveillance has also been enhanced, with control rooms monitoring real-time footage for crowd control," said a senior police officer.

Authorities have also initiated continuous public announcements to guide passengers and prevent panic situations.

Chaos Triggered by Announcement Mix-Up

The fatal stampede occurred around 10 pm on Saturday when a large number of passengers, confused by conflicting train announcements, rushed towards platform 16 via a narrow stairway. The stairway turned into a bottleneck, trapping passengers both ascending and descending. Within minutes, the pressure led to panic, with people falling over one another, resulting in a deadly crush.

Even on Sunday, the station remained overcrowded, with thousands of passengers struggling for space on platforms and foot-over bridges. Officials are working to manage the congestion and ensure no repeat of Saturday’s tragedy.

As investigations continue, the focus remains on identifying the cause of the chaos and implementing measures to prevent such incidents in the future.