NHRC notices to the Chairman, Railway Board, Delhi Chief Secretary, and the Police Commissioner over the reported death of a woman due to electrocution at the New Delhi Railway Station premises

New Delhi, 27th June, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 35-year-old teacher was electrocuted to death at New Delhi railway station premises on 25th June, 2023. Reportedly, she clutched an electric pole for support in a waterlogged area, where the people alight from the taxis on the Ajmeri Gate side of the New Delhi Railway Station. Her sister too received a shock in efforts to rescue her. Allegedly, the victim’s family has also claimed that despite the police station is only a few metres away from the spot, no one came to help in time.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a grave violation of the human rights of the victim and her family due to the apparent negligence of the authorities contributing to waterlogging and open electrical wires. Besides, the civic and electricity authorities, the Railways also seemingly failed to keep a vigil on such life-threatening lapses at the New Delhi Railway Station, which is one of the busiest public places of the NCT of Delhi.

Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the Chairman, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter within 4 weeks. It should include the present status of the FIR registered in the matter, action taken against the officers/ officials responsible for the negligence as well as compensation if any, paid to the aggrieved family. The Commission would also like to know about the steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.

According to the media reports, carried on 26th June, 2023, the incident occurred around 5.30 a.m. on 25th June, 2023. The family resided at Preet Vihar in East Delhi and was going to Chandigarh by Vande Bharat Express. The family members of the victim have reportedly claimed that she lay on the ground for 20-25 minutes before some taxi and auto drivers came to help. They pulled away the victim’s 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, who were standing next to her and saved them. The victim was taken to the hospital in a taxi.