- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed a petition concerning the stampede that occurred at the New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. The petitioners, the Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, claimed before a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra that the railway administration was underreporting the number of deaths, which was officially stated as 18. They argued, based on eyewitness accounts, that around 200 people actually lost their lives in the incident and noted that many families of victims had not received compensation (ex gratia payments). They also called for a CBI investigation into the actions of railway officials.
The Court questioned the petitioners about their assertion that the State government was neglecting the matter and requested evidence to support the claim of 200 fatalities. The judges inquired if there had been reports from any family members of deceased victims regarding the non-receipt of ex gratia payments. After a brief hearing, the Court dismissed the plea, advising that those affected should seek legal recourse directly.
Advocate Abhijeet Anand represented the Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust in this matter. The stampede, linked to the influx of a large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, took place around 10 p.m. and resulted in 18 deaths. Following the incident, Indian Railways announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased’s families, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for individuals with minor injuries. Additionally, railway authorities established a high-level committee to investigate the events surrounding the tragedy.
In a proactive measure, the Ministry of Railways plans to create permanent holding areas at about 60 railway stations across the country that frequently experience crowd congestion. This initiative forms part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at better managing the large crowds at busy railway stations, thus improving transit efficiency and minimizing congestion problems.
