MAHAKUMBHA:Extreme mismanagement by the Railways, pilgrims returning from Purnima Kumbh could not board the train even after purchasing tickets 

by morningsunrise

february 21,2025

Nazat,sandeshkhali1

North24parganas,

Despite having reserved tickets, the Kumbh returnees could not board the train. They had reached the station two hours in advance knowing that there would be a crowd. But it is alleged that they could not board the train due to the extreme negligence of the railways. After that, the pilgrims who were stuck in Mughalsarai rented a four-wheeler and returned to Serampore in Hooghly. They spent about 72 thousand rupees for this. After crossing the horrific journey of almost two days, they are happy that their lives were somehow saved. But they are still terrified. This group of pilgrims reached Serampore on Monday morning. Then, blaming the failure of the railways for the entire incident, they are practically at loggerheads with the authorities. A resident of Serampore Maidan area named Tarun Kole, who was part of the pilgrim group who witnessed this horrific experience while taking a dip in the Kumbh, said, "The tickets were booked two months ago. After taking a dip in Kashi and Vishwanath, we went to Benares station on February 14. Everyone had booked tickets for the Doon Express. Even though I reached the station two hours ago, I could not board the train. There was a huge crowd. And there was no security arrangement on the part of the railways. The railways had no plan to control the crowd. As a result, we could not board the train. In the end, we rented a car after spending a lot of money. The fear of the road is still haunting me. We were likely to get trampled.' A senior pilgrim named Sujata Ghoshal said, 'It was a terrible experience. It seems that the railways and the Kumbh organizers did not have any plan to manage the crowd.' Another pilgrim named Deepak Ghoshal said, 'I spent a lot of time in fear. I felt relieved after returning home on Monday. I could not board the train due to the huge crowd. There was a need to have enough trains. The suffering of Kumbh Snan will be remembered for the rest of my life.' A group of about 30 people had left from Srirampur. The plan was to visit Kashi-Vishwanath, Benares and attend Kumbh Snan. Some seniors were also in the group. They first went to Ayodhya. Then they visited Kashi and went to Kumbh on February 14. The next day they were supposed to return by Doon Express. The pilgrims said that they went to the station much earlier than scheduled on February 15. But the Doon Express did not arrive at the station on time. The train entered the station much later. Then the rush started. The train left much later. It was so crowded that most of the members of the Serampore team could not board the train due to the crowd. A few had booked AC compartment tickets. They were the only ones who were able to board. The rest spent the night at Benares station. The next day they went to Mughalsarai station. But there was no train service there either. Then they looked for a bus. Finally, they rented three four-wheelers and returned to Serampore from Mughalsarai on Monday.