Patna: Patna Junction experienced severe overcrowding on Friday as trains from major cities brought in thousands of passengers eager to celebrate Chhath festival at home. Trains including the Sampoorna Kranti, Shramjeevi, LTT Rajendra Nagar, Ranchi Hatia, and Poorva Express arrived completely full, leaving very little space in sleeper and general coaches. Many passengers were forced to hang onto doors and windows or even stand in train toilets to secure a place for their journey. The rush also included pushcarts and large amounts of luggage, adding to the congestion and making travel difficult and unsafe for many.
The Rajya Rani Express and Katihar Intercity trains were particularly overcrowded at Patna Junction. Hundreds of passengers rushed to board the Rajya Rani Express at platform four, shoving children and bags through emergency windows in a desperate attempt to find space. Despite the chaos, dozens of travelers could not board the trains and missed their journeys. Similarly, the Patna-Gaya MEMU and Katihar Intercity trains at platform ten faced similar issues, with passengers hanging on gates or standing in restrooms due to lack of seating.
Railway staff, including the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), along with station employees, worked tirelessly to control the crowds throughout the day. However, the number of passengers arriving at the station continued to rise, making crowd management a challenge. Many travelers had difficulty even boarding local trains to reach districts like Saharsa, Katihar, and other parts of Bihar. The large crowds highlighted the pressure on railway services during peak festival travel times.
As the Chhath festival continues over the next few days, authorities expect overcrowding to persist. Passengers have requested that the Indian Railways run additional trains and make special arrangements to ensure safe travel. With the station crowded and safety a growing concern, travelers are being urged to plan their journeys carefully. The situation at Patna Junction reflects the challenges of managing mass travel during major festivals in Bihar and the need for improved arrangements to accommodate the surge of passengers.
