By Vishwapati
Patna: Since 13 January, a massive influx of devotees has been gathering to take a holy dip at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Thousands of passengers are travelling daily to Prayagraj by both passenger and express trains. To manage the surge, the railways have introduced more than ten pairs of special trains from various stations each day. However, the measures have been insufficient to ease the overwhelming crowds.
From the Sampoorna Kranti Express to all other express trains heading towards Delhi, the congestion is severe, making it challenging for ticketed passengers to find seats even in reserved coaches.
The situation is particularly dire at major stations like Patna Junction and Gaya Junction, where coaches are already full, and train doors remain shut. Frustrated passengers have resorted to protests, and chaos ensued at Gaya station today when angry travellers pelted stones at a train.
The Kalka Mail Express, which had stopped at Gaya railway station, became a flashpoint. A large number of pilgrims waiting to travel to Prayagraj found the train doors locked. When the doors of both sleeper and AC coaches failed to open, tensions flared. Agitated passengers broke the glass of an AC coach and began pelting stones, causing significant disruption.
The railway administration intervened to calm the situation, but the incident left Gaya Junction in disarray for some time. Reports confirm that the glass of the Kalka Mail’s AC coach was shattered during the commotion.
Similar scenes of unrest occurred at Patna Junction yesterday when passengers of the Sampoorna Kranti Express, unable to board reserved coaches due to overcrowding, protested outside the station.
Despite additional trains, the unprecedented rush of devotees travelling to the Maha Kumbh continues to overwhelm railway operations, with authorities struggling to manage the crowds effectively.
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- The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com
