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Chaos erupts at Gaya Junction as devotees rush to board Prayagraj trains, 3 days after 18 killed in New Delhi stampede

Aarzoo Kalyan

At Gaya Junction in Bihar, thousands of Maha Kumbh devotees struggled to board Prayagraj-bound trains (@PTI_News/ X)

PATNA, BIHAR: Three days after a deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that claimed 18 lives, chaos unfolded at Gaya Junction in Bihar as thousands of devotees jostled to board Prayagraj-bound trains for the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

The rush to board trains at the station, part of the world’s largest spiritual gathering, led to alarming scenes of overcrowding, with no apparent measures in place to control the swelling crowd.

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Massive crowd rush at Gaya Junction as Maha Kumbh draws millions

The Maha Kumbh, which began on Paush Purnima (January 13), has been drawing millions of devotees from around the world. The mass exodus of pilgrims continues until Mahashivratri on February 26, with the number of passengers expected to increase in the coming weeks.

A video shared by news agency PTI showed passengers rushing to board trains, with people pushing and shoving in a chaotic scramble for space.

The situation at Gaya Junction echoed a similar rush witnessed earlier at New Delhi Railway Station, where the stampede resulted in the tragic loss of 18 lives.

Just days before, at Madhubani Railway Station in Bihar, another incident of unrest took place. A group of angry devotees, unable to board the Prayagraj-bound train, resorted to pelting stones at the train, shattering its windows.

The train, already packed with passengers—including those in AC coaches—was unable to accommodate the growing number of devotees.

Frustration led to the act of vandalism, and the situation only added to the growing concerns about crowd control at major railway stations during the ongoing Kumbh Mela.

The chaos was further exacerbated in Varanasi, where a group of devotees stormed the engine of a Kumbh special train.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) intervened, asking the devotees to vacate the engine and restore order.

Deadly stampede at New Delhi railway station highlights overcrowding

The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station occurred late Saturday, February 15, on platforms 14 and 15, where a massive crowd had gathered to board trains for Prayagraj.

The tragic incident resulted in 18 deaths and left more than a dozen people injured. The overwhelming rush of Maha Kumbh devotees trying to make their way to the holy city of Prayagraj caused the overcrowding.

In the aftermath of the stampede, the Indian Railways has implemented several crowd control measures, including setting up two medical help desks at platforms 1 and 16 to assist passengers in case of emergencies.

Authorities are also working to improve coordination at railway stations to ensure smoother movement of devotees during the ongoing festival.

According to figures released by the Maha Kumbh Mela administration, the total number of devotees who have bathed in the holy river since January 13 has surpassed 54.31 crore.

Alongside the common devotees, several political leaders and dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, have also participated in the sacred ritual.

With the number of devotees expected to continue rising, authorities are under mounting pressure to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims while managing the massive crowds at key railway stations like Gaya, Patna, and New Delhi.

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