Highlights: Congress demands resignation of Ashwini Vaishnaw over deadly stampede at NDLS
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 "Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw")
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
The Congress on Sunday demanded that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw must resign, taking moral responsibility for the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station in which 18 people died. Addressing a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said if Vaishnaw does not resign, he should be sacked for the "mismanagement" at the railway station. She said railway officials were well aware of how many people were entering the station and as many as 1500 tickets were being sold every hour. Proper arrangements for crowd management should have been made. Unfortunately, no security forces were seen and the crowds had to manage themselves, which led to such a tragedy, she said. Railways on Sunday announced the names of two high administrative group officials, who will be part of the inquiry committee constituted to probe the stampede at the New Delhi Railway station. Narsingh Deo, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway and Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Northern Railway are the members of the committee, the railways said. The committee, which has commenced it inquiry, gave orders to secure all video footage of the New Delhi Railway Station. Rs 10 lakh compensation has been announced to the families of the deceased who lost their lives in the New Delhi Railway Station stampede. Rs 2.5 lakh compensation to the seriously injured and Rs 1 lakh to the minor injured, according to the Indian Railways. A stampede-like situation broke out at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) late on Saturday evening, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Triggered by severe overcrowding, the incident claimed the lives of at least 18 persons, including three children, and left multiple persons injured, according to the chief casualty medical officer at the Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital in Delhi. The incident occurred around 10 pm as thousands of devotees headed to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 had gathered to board their trains. It is not yet clear what triggered the stampede. The main reason for the chaos was change in platforms for delayed trains for Maha Kumbh at the last moment which caused confusion and the crowd could not be managed. There was a rush to board the train as well as panic when passengers realised that not all of them would be able to get in.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity at the Railway Board, on Sunday, informed that a two-member high-level committee had been formed to investigate the matter and determine the cause of the stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday, which claimed around 15 lives. "A two-member high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter," said Dilip Kumar. Kumar has assured that the situation is now under control, and passengers have been accommodated on special trains. Normal train movement has also resumed at the station. "The situation is under control, and the passengers have been sent by special train... Train movement at the railway station is normal now," he added.
A US plane carrying 116 illegal Indian immigrants landed at the Amritsar International Airport late Saturday night. A C-17 aircraft landed at the airport around 11.35 pm as against the expected time of 10 pm, sources said. This is the second batch of such Indians to be deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants. It was not immediately clear whether the deportees were in shackles, like the previous batch was. The deportees will be allowed to head to their homes after completion of formalities including immigration, verification, and background checks.
9:47 PM
US Blames Iran for Instability, Threats to Peace in West Asia
As United States exerts maximum pressure on Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday blamed the country for "instability, violence and destabilising" activities in the Middle East.
In a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio said that Iran is behind everything that threatens peace and stability in the region.
9:06 PM
Ajit Pawar warns contractors against submitting false bills for work
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has alleged that many contractors are submitting bills and receiving money for development works without carrying them out, warning that such practices won't be tolerated.
He was speaking on Saturday at a programme in Partur in Jalna district where ex-MLA and Congress leader Suresh Jethliya joined his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
8:54 PM
President Murmu highlights positive impact of development on tribals
President Droupadi Murmu said on Sunday that the ongoing development initiatives have positively impacted tribal communities across the country. Speaking at the inauguration of Aadi Mahotsav 2025, she noted that multi-dimensional efforts are being made to ensure their progress.
"The true development of our nation will be realized only when our tribal communities progress," Murmu said.
8:20 PM
All special trains in the direction of Prayagraj will be run from platform number 16: Railways
A day after the tragic stampede incident at New Delhi railway station, Northern Railway enforced a number of measures to avoid any such untoward incident in the days to come.
The Ministry of Railways has announced that all special trains in the direction of Prayagraj will be run from platform number 16.
"Therefore, all the passengers wanting to go to Prayagraj shall come & go from Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi railway station. Regular trains will continue to be operated from all platforms as the regular practice is. This is a step in the direction of avoiding peak hour rush getting accumulated in one platform," the Ministry said in an official statement.
"In addition, the deployment of RPF & GRP forces in New Delhi Railway station has been increased. These personnel are assisting the passengers by helping them guide towards the platform in which their train is scheduled to depart. In addition to the focus on increased operational efficiency in rush hours, Northern Railways ran three special trains by evening 7 pm to clear the additional rush in the direction of Prayagraj. This includes one special train to Darbhanga via Prayagraj and two more special trains towards Prayagraj. Besides regular trains towards prayagraj one more special Train is scheduled to depart at 9 pm to cater to the peak evening hour demand. Given the unprecedented crowd of travellers wanting to go in the direction of Prayagraj, Indian Railway has scheduled five more special trains Tomorrow, i.e. 17/02/205 for Mahakumbh devotees," the statement added.
7:58 PM
'Very sad' incident: Nitish Kumar on Delhi railway station stampede
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday described the deadly stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station that claimed 18 lives as a "very sad" incident.
In a brief statement to the media after arriving in the national capital, Kumar said his government will help the stampede victims from Bihar.
Asked about the stampede, Kumar said, "I got to know about it. This is a very sad incident. There are people from Bihar as well... we have decided to help their families".
The Bihar government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of those from Bihar who died in the stampede and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
7:20 PM
Tight security, barricaded gates at Lok Nayak hospital after New Delhi railway station stampede
Hundreds of paramilitary personnel were deployed and the entry and exit gates sealed, denying access to everyone except medical staff at the LNJP hospital, where victims were brought hours after a deadly stampede at the New Delhi railway station late on Saturday evening that left at least 18 people dead and more than a dozen injured.
Chaos erupted at the station when a massive crowd rushed to board trains to Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is being held, triggering the stampede.
There was a heavy deployment of paramilitary forces outside the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain (LNJP) Hospital and the gates to the facility were barricaded with police ropes, preventing entry. All the entry and exit gates were sealed, with security personnel enforcing strict access control.
Visitors were thoroughly checked and only those with official reports were allowed inside the Delhi government-run hospital.
Even media personnel were denied access, with strict orders in place to restrict movement within the hospital premises.
Some distraught family members were not allowed to enter the casualty and orthopaedic departments, where the injured were being treated.
Desperate to locate their missing loved ones among the admitted patients, they were turned away after officials merely checked the lists in their possession.
Many of them complained that none of the hospitals, where the victims were taken, allowed them to search for their relatives and denied them the opportunity to file missing complaints.
At the LNJP Hospital, which received the highest number of victims, the atmosphere was tense.
6:45 PM
Gaurav Gogoi may be trapped, I have sympathy for him: Assam CM Himanta on Cong MP's wife's controversy
Appearing to soften his stand against Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi over the controversy surrounding the Congress leader's British wife, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday suggested that the opposition leader may have been "trapped or blackmailed" as part of a larger "anti-India" conspiracy.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Sarma expressed sympathy for Gogoi, saying the matter had gone beyond politics with the emergence of new evidence and was now solely related to national security.
Earlier in the day, the BJP leader welcomed the Congress MP's planned legal case over the controversy related to his wife Elizabeth Colburn's alleged ISI links, saying the state government was also mulling a similar step.
"We started discussing this topic about a parliamentarian, but now it has escalated to a much higher level. It is no longer related to Gaurav Gogoi. Now, we have proof or information of an anti-India force actively working behind this. We will decide in today's cabinet," Sarma told reporters here.
6:19 PM
I would urge the banking sector to understand the demands, priorities of textile industry: PM Modi
At Bharat Tex 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...I would urge the banking sector to understand the demands and priorities of these industries and fulfil them. This event is greatly promoting investment, exports, and overall growth in the textile sector..."
6:13 PM
EAM S Jaishankar, Omani counterpart discuss cooperation in trade, investment, energy security
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held wide-ranging discussions with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi on bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and energy security.
Jaishankar is in the Omani capital here to attend the 8th Indian Ocean Conference.
"Delighted to meet FM @badralbusaidi of Oman this morning. Appreciate his personal efforts in successfully hosting the 8th Indian Ocean Conference," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Held wide-ranging discussions on our cooperation in trade, investment and energy security," he said.
The two leaders jointly released the logo celebrating the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.
5:19 PM
Godrej Properties bought 12 land parcels in Apr-Dec 2024: Pirojsha
Godrej Properties acquired 12 land parcels during April-December period of this fiscal to develop housing projects worth Rs 23,450 crore, and plans to buy more in the ongoing quarter to expand business amid strong consumer demand.
Godrej Properties acquires land outright and also partners with landowners, under new business development.
In an interview with PTI, Godrej Properties Executive Chairperson Pirojsha Godrej said the "business development was very strong during December quarter".
The company signed new projects with a total booking value potential of nearly Rs 11,000 crore during the third quarter of this fiscal, he said, adding the business development crossed Rs 23,000 crore during April-December.
4:36 PM
New Delhi stampede incident deeply heartbreaking: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi railway station, and stressed on the need for careful planning and management for safety of people.
At least 18 people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the stampede that broke out late Saturday night at the crowded railway station in the national capital.
"The tragic loss of 18 lives in the Delhi stampede is deeply heartbreaking. This painful incident highlights the importance of careful planning and management, especially when it comes to the safety of citizens," Banerjee said in a post on X.
3:01 PM
Lalu Prasad courts controversy with Maha Kumbh 'meaningless' remark
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Sunday sparked controversy with his remarks dubbing the Maha Kumbh as "meaningless, as he blamed the Railways for the stampede in New Delhi that claimed 18 lives. Prasad also slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the incident at New Delhi railway station, and demanded resignation of the railway minister.
2:44 PM
New Delhi Railway Station stampede: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis condoles loss of lives
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station and said authorities will take steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. "It was an unfortunate incident. Authorities will take steps to ensure such incidents don't happen in future," Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur while responding to a question on the stampede.
2:32 PM
Govt tried to cover up stampede, Railway minister should resign: TMC leaders
Trinamool Congress leaders on Sunday accused the Centre of trying to cover up the stampede at the New Delhi Railway station, and demanded that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw be sacked. In a post on X, TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose accused the government of "callously playing with the lives of Indian citizens" and called it "tragic beyond words".
2:13 PM
Railway stations in Prayagraj adhering to protocols after stampede in Delhi
In view of the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday that claimed 18 lives and the huge influx of devotees coming to attend the Maha Kumbh, railway stations in Prayagraj have been directed to ensure strict adherence to the previously issued protocols to prevent any untoward incident.
Topics : Stampede New Delhi railway station Death toll Maha Kumbh Mela Deportations United States US India relations
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First Published: Feb 16 2025 | 7:34 AM IST
