The Railway Board has announced the operation of 7,663 special train services during the festival season, spanning from October 1 to November 30, marking a 73% increase compared to the same period last year.
Overcrowding Reports Surface
Despite this increase in services, social media has been flooded with posts depicting severe overcrowding in trains, raising concerns about passenger safety and comfort.
According to the Railway Board’s press release, “For the Pooja/Diwali/Chhath rush 2024, a total of 7,663 special train services have been notified. Last year, only 4,429 trips were operated during this period.” The board emphasized that it fulfilled the transport demand for 957.24 lakh non-suburban passengers during the Diwali and Chhath celebrations from October 24 to November 4, compared to 923.33 lakh passengers during the same timeframe last year, representing an increase of 33.91 lakh passengers.
On November 4 alone, over 1.2 crore passengers utilized the services, including 19.43 lakh reserved and over 1.01 crore unreserved non-suburban travelers, marking the highest single-day passenger figure for the current year. The board reported that 207 special trains were run on November 3 and 203 on November 4 to accommodate the surge in passengers.
However, numerous passengers took to social media to express their frustrations, sharing images and videos of overcrowded trains and chaotic scenes at railway stations across the country. One passenger recounted standing in a crowded general compartment for 13 hours and still had eight more hours to travel to reach his destination. Another viral post showed a man sleeping in a train toilet, highlighting the desperate situation some travelers faced.
Posts documenting overcrowded compartments and jam-packed toilets have sparked discussions online, with many urging the Railway Board to take measures to address passenger safety and comfort during peak travel times. Social media users also shared clips of people being pushed into trains through windows, illustrating the extreme conditions some faced during their journeys.