Passengers Lock Themselves in Train's Loco Cabin During Mahakumbh Rush in Varanasi
Mahakumbh crowds surged, creating blockages at Varanasi railway stations. RPF advised safer travel by removing passengers who were sitting inside a train engine.
Inside the engine, passengers lock themselves in
The Free Press Journal said that the event happened on Saturday, February 8, at around two in the morning. When eager passengers were unable to board a Prayagraj-bound train because of the crowding, they stormed into the engine and sealed the door from inside. The train was stationed at platform number two.
About 20 men and women can be seen sitting inside the engine, treating it like any other bus, in the widely shared video. Their daring action shows the immense strain that the city's transit system is under due to the large number of pilgrims attending the Mahakumbh Mela.
ये तो हाल है रेलवे का. यात्री ट्रेन के इंजन में घुसे जा रहे हैं. तस्वीर वाराणसी की है.
यह महाकुंभ स्पेशल ट्रेन का हाल है. यात्रियों ने इंजन में घुस पॉयलट के जगह पर क़ब्ज़ा कर लिया .फिर जैसे तैसे RPF ने इन जबरन घुसे यात्रियों को बाहर निकाला. pic.twitter.com/G4Dm7nT5Xf — राहुल ग़ाज़ियाबाद (@RahulGhaziabadd) February 10, 2025
Railway officials step in
The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) rushed to the area as soon as railway officials were notified. Because the locomotive consisted of vital operational controls, they explained that occupying it posed major risks, therefore they withdrew the passengers from the engine. The stranded passengers were later safely housed in other compartments by the authorities.
Varanasi faces a huge number of pilgrims
Thousands of devotees have come to Varanasi for the Mahakumbh Mela, generating a crush at train stations, temples, ghats, and pilgrimage locations. According to reports, at major temples, devotees are waiting in lines that reach three to four km in order to receive darshan. The 84 ghats of Kashi are crowded with tourists, and bus and train stations are unable to handle the steady stream of people.
Authorities urge safety measures
Railway authorities have advised passengers to abide by safety regulations and avoid from taking chances by boarding trains in unauthorised areas due to the growing number of people. To control the crowd and stop more incidents, more security guards have been stationed at train stops.
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