Days after 18 people were killed in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, the railway ministry has directed social media platform X to remove 285 links of videos depicting deaths during the mishap, Hindustan Times reported. 

In a notice issued on February 17, the ministry cited “ethical norms” and X’s own content policy to direct the platform to remove posts from several accounts, including those of prominent news outlets, within 36 hours, the report said. The ministry’s directive also mentioned concerns about “sensitive or disturbing media depicting deceased individuals”.

The ministry is reported to have also said that in light of the “huge rush of trains” these days, the content in question “may affect the operations of Indian Railways”. 

Notably, the Indian railways had distributed a total of Rs 1.8 crore in cash to families of victims who died at the station on February 15 in a rather unusual move. Newslaundry had reported that wads of cash– up to Rs 10 lakh each – were handed over to families of the dead outside the mortuaries of three hospitals within hours of the mishap.  Most of the victims were headed to Prayagaraj to attend the ongoing Mahakumbh.

Directing X to remove videos of the deceased, the ministry said that such content “may create unwarranted law and order situation”.

According to HT, the notice to X is the second instance wherein the ministry has exercised its power to issue takedown down orders, an authority it gained in December last year. 

In January, the ministry had issued notices to YouTube and Instagram listing a YouTube video, one Instagram post and two reels for their “misleading and sensitive/provocative information”. The content of the posts and visuals in question could not be determined.

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