Overcrowding Nightmare: Chaos Aboard Brahmaputra Mail Sparks Outcry; Railways respond

Passengers aboard the Brahmaputra Mail faced a nightmare journey as overcrowding reached unprecedented levels. Despite holding confirmed bookings, travelers found themselves squeezed into every available space, including train doors, passages, and even toilets, due to the influx of ticketless passengers. 

Videos circulating on social media depict the dire situation, with individuals resorting to makeshift hammocks for some semblance of comfort.

The present video of the coach. No overcrowding. Please don't malign the image of Indian Railways by sharing misleading videos. https://t.co/70xQkhRVdT pic.twitter.com/ivz9LDyFly

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 20, 2024

Amidst the chaos, passengers voiced their grievances, highlighting the plight of children and the inability to find seats even after boarding the train. 

Rajesh Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), acknowledged the severity of the situation, attributing it to the surge in summer travel, wedding season, and harvesting activities. 

Speaking about the problem, Rajesh Gupta shared, “The number of people travelling in trains has increased during summers. People along with their children return home during summer vacations. The wedding season is ongoing as well, due to which the number of passengers has increased. The current harvesting season has also led to people travelling to their villages. This is the reason behind overcrowding in trains at the moment. In such cases, Railways has always increased the number of special trains.”

“Last year, Railways operated 6369 special trains. This year, we have already planned 9111 trips and Railways is constantly monitoring the situation. Special trains are operated in cases of overcrowding,” the DRM added.

Currently, the rising summer heat is making passengers’ journeys worse, forcing railway officials to implement additional safety measures to safeguard passengers’ well-being. To address the issue, Railway authorities have installed water machines at multiple stations across the country. Additionally, they are providing coolers to ensure passengers have access to cold water during their journey

To alleviate overcrowding, plans are underway to introduce special trains, with 9111 trips already scheduled for this year.

However, overcrowding remains a persistent issue, as evidenced by recent incidents on trains like the Kashi Express. 

Indian Railways has swiftly rebutted misleading claims regarding overcrowding, emphasizing their commitment to passenger safety and service quality.