The Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has said that the entry of pilgrims from both sides of Allahabad Railway station was the main reason for the stampede which claimed 36 lives.

Talking to media persons at Allahabad yesterday, Mr. Bansal said that the crowd was expected to come from the city side of the junction through Leader Road, as it was decided in the meeting with local civil authorities. He said that crowd management should not be expected from the railways. He said railways are meant for ferrying pilgrims and 220 special trains in addition to regular trains passing from Allahabad are plying for the Mauny Amawasya bathing festival.

The Minister announced setting up of a three member committee under Chairmanship of Additional Member (Traffic) of the Railway Board to probe the incident.

The Railway Minister said that the Prime Minister and Railways have announced financial assistance to the victims separately.He said two lakh rupees will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased and 50 thousand rupees to every injured person from the Prime Minister's Relief fund. He said his ministry will be providing one lakh rupees to the next kin of deceased, 50 thousand rupees to the seriously injured and 25 thousand rupees to pilgrims who received minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has refused setting up a judicial probe into the incident. The Chief Secretary of the state Javed Usmani said in Allahabad that the seniormost official of the state,Chairman, Board of Revenue,has been asked to probe the incident and has been asked to complete his probe within a month. He said that the inquiry officer will probe all aspects of the incident and also make suggestions to the government to check that such incidents do not happen in future. Meanwhile the state government has also enhanced the amount of financial assistance being given to the kin of each deceased and injured. The next of kin of the deceased will be given seven lakh rupees and the injured – two lakh rupees.