Stampede at Delhi station
Sadly, most railway stations in the country do not have enough entry and exit points. The priority should be the safety of human lives. With the heavy rush at railway stations, the Indian Railways cannot absolve itself of its responsibility to ensure safety. Are not the authorities aware of the huge rush due to the Kumbh? It is in times such as these that safety measures need to be the best (“Amid Kumbh rush, 15 feared dead in stampede at New Delhi railway station”, February 16).
Balasubramaniam Pavani,
Secunderabad
Even with men and machinery such as police and announcements, it is unfortunate to have a tragedy. It shows the utter failure of crowd management.
Dr. D.V.G. Sankara Rao,
Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
It is inconceivable that the railway administration was unaware of the mammoth crowds. With crowds expected to grow in the days ahead, the government must ensure that there is foolproof safety and security as people head to the Kumbh.
V. Johan Dhanakumar,
Chennai
People do not enter any platform without tickets (unless the railway officials have begun issuing tickets on trains). Did not the officials know how many tickets were issued, since it is all computerised with no manual writing and issuing, and realise that the special train could not accommodate all the passengers on their way to Prayagraj?
This sort of overcrowding happens regularly, more so when youngsters travel by train for examinations and recruitment drives, or when people go home for religious festivals. An audit of the number of passengers and the number of tickets issued for a specific destination should be done to verify the extent of the callous attitude of the Indian Railways.
Hemachandra Basappa,
Bengaluru
As always, committees and commissions will emerge and are likely to pin the blame on low-ranking officials. This cycle of scapegoating must end.
V. Nagarajan,
Chennai
The ceasefire
The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel brings only temporary relief. Until the deeper Palestinian issue is addressed and meaningful steps are taken toward a sustainable two-state solution, future hostilities remain a looming threat. Tranquillity in the region is not just a regional necessity but also a global imperative.
Rayapur Pradham,
Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
Sent back from America
The chain of deportations from the United States highlights the ongoing immigration crisis. While the U.S. has the right to deport illegal migrants, the Indian government must take responsibility in addressing the root causes (‘Ground Zero’ page, February 15 and “U.S. flight brings second batch of 116 deportees”, February 16). Stronger policies and awareness campaigns are essential to discourage unlawful migration and to promote safer, legal pathways for job seekers abroad. This issue transcends legal and political boundaries, emphasising the need to safeguard human lives and ensure ethical migration practices.
Gaurav Badhwar,
Haryana, Rohtak
Published – February 17, 2025 12:24 am IST
