3 Things Delhi Railway stampede, US deportation flights, and rise in crop insurance
Feb 18, 2025
Dheeraj Mishra, a reporter at The Indian Express, discusses the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, detailing the chaos that ensued and the failures in crowd management that led to the disaster. Raakhi Jagga, also from The Indian Express, sheds light on the controversial US deportation flights to Punjab, exploring accusations of bias against the Indian government and the repercussions for local communities. The podcast also touches on the increasing reliance of Maharashtra's onion farmers on crop insurance due to unpredictable weather challenges.
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Delhi Railway Station Stampede
- Eighteen people died in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, mostly on the stairs.
- The incident involved four trains and confused passengers heading to the Mahakumbh festival.
Ticket Sales Foreshadowed Tragedy
- Railway officials could have foreseen the increased traffic due to 2,600 more tickets sold than usual between 6 pm and 8 pm.
- They admitted this off the record, acknowledging more personnel could have prevented the tragedy.
Initial Response and Cover-Up Allegations
- The Railway Ministry's initial response downplayed the incident, claiming no stampede occurred, leading to criticism.
- After the Prime Minister acknowledged it, they confirmed the stampede, raising accusations of a cover-up.