Overcrowding in reserved coaches due to the increasing rush at Kumbha Mela

Massive rush of devotees in trains

Due to the huge number of devotees, even the trains are becoming inadequate !

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), 11.2.2025 – The rising crowd at Kumbha Mela has completely disrupted the railway schedule. The number of devotees has surged so much that all trains are fully booked until the end of February. Despite the railway administration running special trains, the passenger rush continues to increase.

The outgoing rush from Kumbha Kshetra is so overwhelming that even passengers with general compartment tickets are unable to board, forcing them to travel in AC and sleeper coaches. Many devotees, unaware of the extreme crowd, are missing their trains as they are unable to reach the station on time.

Confusion over coach positions causes last-minute rush

The railway administration displays coach positions only a few minutes before the train’s arrival at the platform. As a result, even passengers who arrive early remain uncertain about the exact location of their reserved coach.

With heavy luggage and the intense crowd, it has become extremely difficult to reach the reserved compartments on time. This situation is particularly challenging for elderly passengers, children, and women.

Porters exploiting passengers with exorbitant charges

At various railway stations across Uttar Pradesh, porters are charging unreasonably high fees to transport passengers’ luggage to their respective train coaches. Reports indicate that for carrying 7-8 bags, porters are demanding over ₹3,000.