Court Questions Safety Measures After New Delhi Railway Station Tragedy
February 19, 2025: New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday strongly criticized the Centre and Indian Railways over last week’s devastating stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people.
Also Read: Delhi Stampede Horror: Opposition Demands “Exact Figures,” Blames Govt for Negligence
A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela questioned why the Railways continued selling tickets beyond the seating capacity of coaches. The court demanded an explanation from the Centre and the Railways, seeking urgent steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding safety measures and the enforcement of Section 147 of the Railways Act, which limits the number of passengers per coach and prescribes penalties for violations, including a six-month jail term and a ₹1,000 fine.
Court’s Strong Rebuke to Railways
“Show us what steps you will take to implement existing laws that restrict the number of passengers per coach and penalize unauthorized entry,” the court stated. It emphasized that every railway administration has a statutory mandate to fix and prominently display the permitted passenger limit for each coach.
The Chief Justice further remarked, “Had the rules been implemented in letter and spirit, this tragic incident could have been avoided.” While acknowledging that rush-hour demand might necessitate flexibility, the court asserted that selling tickets beyond capacity on normal days was a clear violation of safety norms.
Railway’s Response & Next Hearing
Under pressure, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Railways, assured the court that the Railway Board would review the situation. The court scheduled the next hearing for March 26.
Stampede at Delhi Railway Station: The Tragic Sequence
Among the 18 fatalities, 11 were women and five were children. The incident reportedly occurred after station authorities sold around 3,000 tickets in just two hours, sources told NDTV. Additional tickets were purchased online, worsening the overcrowding.
The crisis peaked around 10 PM after the departures of the Shiv Ganga Express and Magadh Express, both bound for Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is being held. Thousands of passengers were still stranded on platforms 14 and 15 when rumors spread about a special train from platform 16, triggering a chaotic rush and the fatal stampede.
Railway Ministry Denies Platform Change Theory
Contrary to reports that a last-minute platform change caused the stampede, the Railway Ministry dismissed these claims as "wrong and misleading." It also clarified that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) had not conducted an inquiry, and instead, a high-level committee under Northern Railway was leading the probe.
Political Fallout & Similar Tragedies
The Delhi stampede occurred just days after a similar disaster in Prayagraj, which claimed 30 lives. These back-to-back tragedies have intensified political attacks on the BJP-led central and state governments, with the opposition demanding stronger safety measures and accountability.
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DelhiStampede, RailwaySafety, IndianRailways, RailwayAct, PassengerSafety, HighCourt, TrainTravel, Overcrowding, PublicSafety, DelhiNews,
Last Updated on February 19, 2025 by Misha Bhatia
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