The Supreme Court of India on February 28, 2025, dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a detailed probe into the tragic stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station on February 15. The petitioner had alleged that the railway authorities were concealing the actual death toll, which they claimed was significantly higher than officially reported. The plea also sought a CBI investigation into the incident.

Key Details of the Stampede Incident

  • Date of Incident: February 15, 2025
  • Location: New Delhi Railway Station
  • Casualties: At least 18 people confirmed dead, several injured (as per official reports)
  • Cause: Overcrowding on foot overbridges, ticket-checking bottlenecks, and mismanagement of passenger movement

Supreme Court’s Response

  • The bench dismissed the plea, stating that adequate investigations were already underway.
  • The court remarked that it would not interfere, especially when other legal forums were addressing the issue.

Delhi High Court’s Parallel Proceedings

While the Supreme Court rejected the PIL, the Delhi High Court has actively engaged with the issue:

  • February 19, 2025: The Delhi HC asked railway authorities to submit a report on passenger management.
  • The court sought explanations regarding platform ticket sales, station crowd control, and emergency response measures.
  • It emphasized passenger safety reforms to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Allegations of Death Toll Concealment

The petitioner argued that:

  1. The actual number of deaths was far higher than the reported 18 casualties.
  2. Railway officials allegedly withheld information to prevent administrative scrutiny.
  3. There was a lack of accountability regarding mismanagement leading to the disaster.

Railways' Response

The Indian Railways dismissed the allegations, stating that:

  • The stampede resulted from sudden overcrowding and not negligence.
  • Immediate relief operations were conducted, and compensation was provided to victims' families.
  • Measures were being taken to improve crowd control and infrastructure at major stations.

Conclusion

While the Supreme Court has dismissed the plea, the Delhi High Court continues to investigate the New Delhi Railway Station stampede. The focus remains on passenger safety improvements and accountability for railway operations to prevent future tragedies.