New Delhi: A tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15, 2025, left 18 people dead and over a dozen injured. The incident occurred as thousands of passengers rushed to board trains heading to the Mahakumbh. The Congress party has held Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responsible for the disaster, demanding his immediate resignation. Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate criticized the “complete mismanagement” at the station, stating that authorities were well aware of the crowd surge yet failed to implement proper security measures. She alleged that despite 1,500 tickets being sold every hour, no arrangements were made for crowd control, leaving passengers to fend for themselves.

Shrinate further accused the government of prioritizing VIP treatment at the Kumbh over public safety, drawing a sharp contrast between the privileged elite and common citizens struggling at railway platforms. She termed the incident a “massacre” rather than an accident, highlighting the lack of police presence, medical assistance, and emergency response. Eyewitness accounts, she claimed, painted a horrifying picture—porters carrying lifeless bodies while hospitals overflowed with victims. The Congress leader also slammed the Railway Minister for allegedly downplaying the tragedy, focusing on “building his image” instead of acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

The opposition’s demand for Vaishnaw’s resignation has intensified the political storm, with calls for accountability growing louder. The Congress insists that the minister must either step down voluntarily or be removed for his alleged failure in handling railway operations. “The Indian Railways cannot be entrusted to a minister who dismisses such horrific deaths as minor incidents,” Shrinate remarked. The tragedy has sparked nationwide outrage, with critics questioning the government’s preparedness for managing large gatherings, particularly during major religious events.