Delhi Divisional Railway Manager Transferred Prematurely Weeks After Station Stampede

The Railway Ministry transferred Delhi Divisional Railway Manager Sukhwinder Singh on Tuesday, as per an official order. The development comes over a fortnight after 18 passengers were killed in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. 

Singh was appointed Delhi DRM in July 2024 and his two-year stint was slated to end later this year, reported PTI. 

Issuing the transfer order, Railway Ministry said Pushpesh R Tripathi from the North Central Railway Zone will replace Singh. The order, however, did not state anything about Singh's new posting. 

"The Ministry of Railways has with the approval of the President decided that Shri Pushpesh R Tripathi, NFHAG (non-functional higher administrative grade)/IRSEE (Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers)/North Central Railway should be transferred and posted as DRM/Delhi/Northern Railway vice Shri Sukhwinder Singh, IRSEE, orders for whom will follow," the order said.

On the evening of February 15, a stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station as a crowd surged with passengers bound for Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela. 

As per the PTI report, railway officials have denied the suggestion that Singh's transfer was linked to the stampede, however, it further quoted its sources as saying that his new posting was pushed forward due to the tragedy.

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Most Victims Died Of Asphia 

The post-mortem reports of the deceased have revealed that 15 of the 18 victims died as a result of traumatic asphia caused by blunt force injury to their chest, reported The Indian Express. 

Two others died due to hemorrhagic shock as a result of blunt force impact to the chest, while one died due to a head injury from blunt surface impact.

Following the stampede, the bodies of 10 victims were sent to Maulana Azad Medical College, five to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and three to Lady Hardinge Medical College for post-mortem examination. 

About the 15 people who died of traumatic asphia, the reports stated: “Their injuries are antemortem in nature, fresh in duration and caused by blunt force impact, and could be possible in the manner as alleged.”