Significant disruption occurred at Patna Junction railway station on Monday, January 28, 2025. The incident took place in the morning when overwhelming crowds attempted to board the 12393 Patna-Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Express. The situation was particularly challenging due to the ongoing Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj (formerly known as Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh. This particular festival has led to exceptionally high passenger numbers on trains heading in that direction. Passengers have shared harrowing visuals of the overcrowding.
Chaos Erupts At Patna Junction For Boarding Train To Delhi
According to an article that was recently published by The Free Press Journal or the FPJ, the absence of police personnel to manage the situation further exacerbated the problems. The scene became particularly fraught when it emerged that even passengers holding reserved tickets were unable to board the train.
Several railway carriages had their doors locked from within, with frustrated travellers attempting unsuccessfully to force them open. When affected passengers sought to lodge complaints at the station director’s office, they found the gates locked.
This left them without immediate recourse. According to the East Coast Railway, approximately 45 passengers were unable to board due to locked carriage doors. The railway authorities responded to the crisis by arranging two special trains to transport stranded passengers to Prayagraj.
Passengers Share Harrowing Visuals Of The Incident
These departed from Patna at 10 PM and 10:30 PM respectively. Additionally, the East Coast Railway confirmed that fares were refunded to passengers who had originally planned to travel to Delhi on the Sampoorna Kranti Express.
The incident, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media, highlighted the logistical challenges posed by the Maha Kumbh festival. This significant religious gathering commenced on January 13, 2025, and continues until February 25, 2025.
It is drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees to Prayagraj for the sacred ritual of bathing in the Triveni Sangam. The East Coast Railway acknowledged that the extraordinary crowds were directly attributable to the Maha Kumbh festival, which has placed considerable strain on the regional transport infrastructure.
Have you ever witnessed overcrowding to such an extent? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @Crimino_Guy and @vsahay0458/(Formerly, Twitter)
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