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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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
