The Northern Railways today said that it was not responsible for the deaths, but Union Railways Minister Nitish Kumar had announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 15,000 to the next of kin of the deceased and a payment of Rs 5,000 for the treatment of the injured youth as a ``humanitarian gesture''. The injured youth has been admitted to the Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences.

Divisional Railway Manager (Northern Railways) Rakesh Chopra is to conduct a detailed inquiry into the accident as no obstructive iron rods were found near the track during the spot inspection yesterday evening. Based on eyewitness accounts, railway authorities had initially said that the inclined iron rods put by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) were the main cause of the accident.

Chief Public Relations Officer (Northern Railways) Chandralekha Mukherjee today said that though CPWD men were working on several stretches near the track, no work was in progress at the point where the accident took place. Moreover, the CPWD men, who were whitewashing the bridge, were not working yesterday as it was a Sunday.

The youths were apparently part of a boisterous group and were leaning out of the train and trying to touch the signals near the track. One of them is believed to have lost his balance and fallen out of the train, creating a ripple effect and causing three others to fall out. Mukherjee added that they were waiting for the fourth youth to recover and give an accurate picture.