To manage the massive influx of devotees traveling to Prayagraj for Mahakumbh, Northern Railway has introduced four special trains to manage the surge in passenger traffic. The announcement came a day after the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, which left 18 people dead.
Three of these trains will operate between Delhi and Prayagraj, while one will run between Delhi and Darbhanga. One of the Prayagraj-bound trains will depart from Anand Vihar Terminal, while the other two will leave from New Delhi Railway Station.
“To facilitate smooth travel during Mahakumbh Mela and manage the extra rush, Railways have decided to operate special trains,” said an official statement from the Railways.
List of special trains to Prayagraj
Train No. 04420 – New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 19:00 hours
Train No. 04422 – New Delhi to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 21:00 hours
Train No. 04424 – Anand Vihar Terminal to Prayagraj Jn, departing at 20:00 hours
Train No. 04418 – New Delhi to Darbhanga Jn, departing at 15:00 hours
The stampede at New Delhi railway station on Saturday evening was triggered by confusion over train announcements. According to police, platforms 13, 14, and 15 were overcrowded due to delays in the Swatantrata Senani Express and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express.
When an announcement was made about a special train to Prayagraj from platform 16, many passengers—mistaking it for their usual train—rushed to the platform, causing the deadly chaos.