New Delhi : The Ministry of Railways has issued a directive to X , instructing the platform to remove 285 social media links featuring videos of the February 15 stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. According to The Hindustan Times, this marks one of the first major actions taken by the ministry since it was granted direct content takedown powers in December.
The notice, issued on February 17, cites ethical concerns and X’s content policies, giving the platform 36 hours to comply. The ministry stated that sharing such videos could incite public unrest and disrupt railway operations, especially amid the heavy train traffic during this period.
The directive also targeted multiple accounts, including those of major news organizations. The ministry justified its decision by highlighting the presence of “sensitive or disturbing media depicting deceased individuals.”
This is not the first instance of the ministry exercising its authority to remove online content. In January, it directed YouTube and Instagram to take down posts containing “misleading and provocative information” that could disturb public order. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, later confirmed that it acted upon receiving a valid legal request.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on February 20 directed the Railways to review passenger limits and platform ticket sales in response to the recent tragedy. A bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed concern over inadequate crowd management and questioned why ticket sales often exceeded train capacities.
The court has instructed the Railway Board to submit an affidavit detailing steps to improve crowd control.
The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station claimed at least 18 lives as passengers rushed to board trains bound for Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh Mela is currently underway.
