Festive Rush Chaos: Railways Add 1,200 Special Trains Yet Stations Overflow With Passengers

Every year during Diwali and Chhath, India witnesses a familiar yet chaotic sight—crowded trains and overflowing stations. Despite the Indian Railways announcing over 1,200 additional trains this festive season, the arrangements seem to have failed under the weight of massive passenger turnout. At New Delhi Railway Station, scenes of people boarding through windows, carrying heavy luggage, and sitting five to a berth paint a grim picture of the situation.Even as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw interacted with passengers asking, “How did you like the arrangements outside?”, the irony was hard to miss. Passengers, showing rare patience, still called the arrangements “clean and tidy,” even as trains were jam-packed. Meanwhile, at Anand Vihar station, crowds stretched across overbridges connecting the metro, railway station, and bus depot, creating a near-stampede situation.Similar chaos was reported from Mumbai, Surat, Patna, and Howrah, where people queued for hours, some even days, to get tickets home. Videos from passengers showed people hanging from doors or traveling like “sheep and goats” due to a lack of space. Despite all efforts and special trains, India’s age-old festive rush continues—an overwhelming reminder of the country’s massive population and unmatched enthusiasm to celebrate with family.