Brahmaputra Mail Passengers Fill Every Space As Overcrowding Reaches Peak

Social media has recently been filled with videos showing the harrowing reality of overcrowded trains. Despite passengers holding confirmed bookings, many are finding themselves looking for space amidst cramped coaches, due to the presence of ticketless travellers. A report by India Today highlights the extreme conditions faced by passengers aboard the Brahmaputra Mail on April 23. To get relief from the chaos, individuals even made temporary hammocks for some comfort. The overcrowding was so severe that passengers occupied every available space, including the train doors, passage and even the toilets. While travellers suffer from these challenging conditions, Rajesh Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), assured that a process is underway to address the issue and they’re planning to introduce special trains.

A Brahmaputra Mail passenger shared, “There is no space in the train. Even children are suffering as a result of this.” Abhishek Jaiswal, another passenger on the chaotic train, shared that he was unable to find a seat despite managing to board the train. He said, “I want to go from Mughalsarai to Patna, but the condition of the train is bad. Sleeper has become general. The condition of AC trains is worse than sleeper coaches.”

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.

Previously, a similar overcrowding issue was reported in the Kashi Express, which runs between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. A video surfaced online shows ticketless passengers obstructing the pathway to the washroom and crowding the doors. The individual who shared the video clarified that it was not filmed in the general coach or 3AC, he claimed that people were boarding 2AC without confirmed tickets.

However, soon after his video went viral, Indian Railways swiftly dismissed the claims made by the individual. They shared an inside video of the same train and urged the person not to ruin the reputation of Indian Railways by spreading misleading information.