Wed Feb 19 10:22:00 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court Slams Centre, Railways Over Deadly Station Stampede

**New Delhi:** The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply criticized the Indian government and Indian Railways for their role in last week’s deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, which claimed 18 lives, including 11 women and five children.

The court questioned why the Railways continued selling tickets exceeding the passenger capacity of train coaches, demanding explanations from both the Centre and the Railways. The hearing centered on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) focused on improving safety measures and enforcing Section 147 of the Railways Act, which limits passengers per coach and prescribes penalties for violations. The court highlighted the Railways’ failure to adhere to this law, which mandates clearly displaying the maximum passenger capacity on each coach.

Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed frustration, stating that stricter enforcement of existing regulations could have prevented the tragedy. While acknowledging that exceeding capacity might be necessary on extremely busy days, the court emphasized the consistent negligence in upholding the maximum seating limits. The court specifically questioned the discrepancy between the number of tickets sold and the available berths.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Railways, assured the court that the Railway Board would thoroughly investigate the matter. The court adjourned the hearing until March 26.

The stampede, which occurred after several trains departed from platforms 14 and 15, following the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, was reportedly exacerbated by the sale of approximately 3,000 additional tickets within a two-hour period. While the Railway Ministry dismissed reports of a last-minute platform change as misleading, investigations are underway by a high-level committee appointed by Northern Railways, contradicting earlier reports of an RPF inquiry. The incident follows a similar tragedy in Prayagraj, where 30 people were killed.

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