NEW DELHI: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to Union government and all the States to coordinate and work collectively by constituting an expert committee to frame guidelines and measures to prevent the incidents of stampedes, like witnessed New Delhi Railway Station.
SC PIL Seeks Urgent Crowd Management Guidelines After New Delhi Railway Station Stampede
In his plea, advocate Vishal Tiwari sought a direction to the Union government and States for the implementation and consideration of the report made by the National Disaster Management Authority in 2014 titled as "managing crowd at events and venues of mass gathering".
He urged the court to direct the Indian Railways to take measures for the safety of passengers at railway stations and platforms by widening corridors, constructing broader overbridges and platforms.
Railway Safety in Focus: Plea Urges Expert Committee to Prevent Future Stampedes
The Railways should also ensure easy access to platforms through ramps and escalators, during peak hours, any changes to arrival or departure platforms should be strictly avoided.
"Utilising barriers, ropes, and crowd control gates to manage passenger flow is essential and not to distribute tickets at a time above the number of Passengers who may Gather and accommodate on a railway station as per to the Space available," he said in his plea.
Tiwari also sought a direction to the Union government and Railways to submit a status report on the incident of stampede on February 15, at New Delhi Railway Station, Delhi, which claimed lives of 18 people.
He said that the stampede incidents are continuing from the past but, "when we are fully equipped with the technology like CCTV cameras, having sufficient forces man power, artificial intelligence and economically also strong in comparison to past time, then also such stampede should not happen".
"It is not merely an incident but a failure and negligence for which the common people have to pay price," he said.
He alleged that the government did not release the actual data of human casualties and missing persons, which may be to conceal its negligence and failure.
A responsibility has to be fixed upon government to disclose the actual data and to establish the counters and helpline numbers for the dead and missing persons so that their relatives and family members may enquire and ask about the condition, his plea said.
He urged that the Railway Ministry has to take steps like avenues such as widening corridors, constructing broader overbridges and platforms can alleviate congestion, thereby minimising the risk of stampedes.
Tiwari also prayed, "Additionally, ensuring easy access to platforms through ramps and escalators can facilitate a more even for few high class people and VIP's Government can deploy the best facility and security but the common citizens are always left on their fate and destiny".
