New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- The Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to extend insurance coverage to passengers buying train tickets at station counters from October 27, 2026. At present, passengers can get this facility when making train travel reservations online by paying a nominal additional amount.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan pronounced the order on October 6, 2026, while hearing a petition filed in the aftermath of the Odisha train accident that happened in June 2023.

According to the apex court's order, all tickets sold offline must be covered by travel insurance from October 27. This is a mandatory direction to the railways, rather than an optional facility that passengers can independently choose. ...