Indian Railways Criticized for Poor Handling of Diwali Rush
Millions of people traveling to celebrate Diwali with their families have faced major difficulties due to the poor handling of the holiday rush by Indian Railways. Videos circulating on social media show overcrowded trains and long queues outside compartments, leaving many travelers stranded and unable to reach their destinations.
One frustrated passenger took to social media to share a video claiming that despite having a confirmed ticket, he was unable to board a train in Vadodara, Gujarat. He criticized the management of Indian Railways and expressed his disappointment at the lack of help from the police.
“The labor crowd threw me out of the train. They locked the doors and were not allowing anyone to enter. The police refused to help and laughed at the situation,” he wrote.
In response, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Vadodara urged the railway police to investigate the incident.
Similar scenes of massive crowds were witnessed at railway stations in New Delhi. Videos on social media show stations packed to the brim as travelers anxiously await their trains.
The situation turned tragic in Surat, where a stampede broke out as a large crowd of passengers rushed towards a special train bound for Bihar. One person died, and two others were injured in the stampede. Multiple incidents of fainting were also reported.
The overcrowding at the railway station caused panic attacks and dizziness among some passengers, according to the police.
To cope with the rush at stations across the country, Indian Railways has deployed 1,700 special trains, providing an additional 2.6 million berths.
“Approximately 2.6 million extra berths have been added for the convenience of passengers,” said a Railways official.
However, even with the additional berths, it has become increasingly difficult for people to secure reserved seats due to the high demand for train reservations during the festive season.
