Delhi Railway Station stampede: Ex-Gratia distributed in cash, autopsies conducted overnight
New Delhi: The Indian Railways conducted autopsies of the victims of Saturday’s stampede at three city hospitals overnight and disbursed ex-gratia relief in cash to the bereaved families and injured passengers. According to officials, ₹10 lakh was handed over in cash to the kin of each deceased at the mortuaries, while three seriously injured victims received ₹2.5 lakh each and 12 others were given ₹1 lakh each.
“All the compensation was given in cash to the near relatives of the victims by Northern Railways. The distribution took place from morning till 8 PM,” said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity), Railway Board.
As per a Ministry of Railways press release from September 22, 2023, a maximum of ₹50,000 is to be paid in cash as immediate relief, with the remaining amount transferred through bank accounts. However, in this case, the entire compensation was disbursed in cash, an unusual move according to officials.
A retired legal officer, formerly part of a claims commission, noted that compensation is typically released after thorough verification, which usually takes months. “Although not illegal, immediate cash disbursal on such a scale is rare. The funds likely came from the railway department’s contingency budget and may face scrutiny during audits,” he said.
Families of the victims confirmed that a three-member team from the Railways met them at the mortuaries around 4:30 AM, completed identification formalities, and handed over the ex-gratia amount along with the bodies. Security personnel were deployed to escort them home, ensuring the safety of the large cash amounts.
Among the deceased was 19-year-old Baby Kumari from Bihar, who had recently cleared her Class 12 exams and had come to Delhi in search of a job. Her father, Prabhu Sah, received the compensation and was accompanied by an RPF official as he took his daughter's body back to Motihari, Bihar.
Similarly, Neeraj Kumar, a 12-year-old from Vaishali, Bihar, died in the stampede while on his way to the Maha Kumbh with his relatives. His uncle, Amarjeet Paswan, who was also injured, said he was given ₹10 lakh in cash after confirming his nephew’s identity with online documents.
The incident has raised questions over the Railway authorities’ decision to bypass standard protocols for compensation disbursal. However, officials defended the move as an attempt to provide immediate relief to grieving families.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
