A stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, which led to the tragic loss of at least 18 lives, has prompted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to be filed in the Supreme Court. The petition seeks the formation of an expert committee to suggest measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The PIL was filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has requested the Union and State governments to implement the 2014 report by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) titled “Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering.”
The petitioner has sought directions for the Indian Railways to take several safety measures for passengers at railway stations, including:
Read Also:- Allahabad High Court Dismisses PIL Challenging Loudspeakers at Maha Kumbh Due to Lack of Evidence
- Widening corridors at stations.
- Constructing broader overbridges and platforms.
- Ensuring easy access to platforms via ramps and escalators, particularly during peak hours.
- Strictly avoiding last-minute changes to train arrival or departure platforms.
- Limiting ticket distribution according to the station's capacity to avoid overcrowding.
Cause of the Stampede and Recurring Issues
The petitioner stated that the stampede occurred due to a last-minute change in the departure platform for the Prayagraj-bound train. He also pointed out that similar incidents have occurred at railway stations in the past.
“These recurring tragedies highlight the urgent need for enhanced crowd management and safety measures at significant transport hubs such as New Delhi Railway Station.” – Petitioner
Read Also:- Supreme Court Concludes PIL on Including Mother's Name in Child’s Documents as Most States Implement Changes
Railways’ Negligence and Administration’s Oversight
The petition further stated that the Government and the Ministry of Railways should have anticipated the huge influx of passengers during major events like the Maha Kumbh Mela, and thus, should have implemented adequate safety measures.
“Social media videos and news reports show the chaotic conditions at the stations where passengers were suffering. The train bogies were packed to full capacity, leaving no room for passengers, with even reserved seats being mismanaged.” – Petition
Interestingly, the same petitioner had earlier filed a PIL in the Supreme Court after a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela. However, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain the petition, advising the petitioner to approach the High Court.
On Monday, another lawyer brought the matter before a bench led by Justice Oka, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the incident.
“The mentioning has to be made before the Chief Justice of India.” – Justice Oka
