Morning Digest: 15 dead, several injured in stampede at New Delhi railway station; U.S. flight brings second batch of 116 deportees, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on February 16, 2025

Fifteen people, including three children, lost their lives in a stampede at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday night (February 15, 2025).  Eleven others were injured, according to the Chief Casualty Medical Officer, LNJP Hospital. Speaking to The Hindu, Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg said the cause of the stampede was unclear, but initial reports suggested that cancellation of two trains to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh led to crowding and chaos on two platforms. 

A United States aircraft carrying a batch of 116 alleged illegal migrants from India, who were deported from the U.S., landed at Punjab’s Amritsar International Airport on Saturday night .This was the second group of Indian citizens to be sent back from the U.S. after President Donald Trump started a crackdown on illegal immigrants. On February 5, a U.S. military plane brought 104 illegal immigrants, in handcuffs and chains, to Amritsar, inviting sharp criticism from the Opposition.

Amidst troubled ties with Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will meet Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat on Sunday (February 16, 2025), sources confirmed.

Popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia apologised for his remark on parents again on Saturday (February 15, 2025) but said he feels scared as he and his family are receiving death threats. Mr. Allahbadia, one of the most influential podcasters with over 16 million followers across social media platforms, landed in a major controversy over his comment on parents and sex at Samay Raina’s comedy show “India’s Got Latent”.

A special court in Bengaluru on February 15 (Saturday) handed over to the Tamil Nadu government about 27 kg of gold jewellery, records of 1,526 acres of land, and bank deposits of around ₹10 crore, which were confiscated from former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late Jayalalithaa and others in the disproportionate assets (DA) case.

A former Goa MLA on Saturday (February 15, 2025) collapsed in a hotel and died minutes after he was allegedly assaulted by an auto driver following an argument in neighbouring Karnataka, an official said.

Inaugurating the third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi on Saturday (February 15, 2025), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the unique event signifies India’s cultural foundations, noting that Kashi and Tamil Nadu share an emotional and creative bond since time immemorial.