As the Chhath festival concluded, thousands of people began leaving Bihar to return to work in other states. The sudden rush caused massive overcrowding at Patna’s main railway stations, including Patna Junction, Rajendranagar Terminal, and Danapur.
By Friday morning, all three stations were packed beyond capacity. Long queues of passengers carrying luggage stretched across platforms. Most trains leaving for Delhi, Punjab, and other northern states were overloaded. The situation quickly turned chaotic, forcing the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to step in to manage the crowd.
Trains Packed Beyond Capacity
Railway officials reported that trains such as the Sampoorna Kranti Express, Patna-Kota Express, and Punjab Mail were running far above their passenger limits. More than 50 people were removed from overcrowded compartments to avoid safety risks. RPF personnel and railway staff urged passengers to board special trains arranged to handle the festive rush.
Despite the requests, the crowd kept swelling. Passengers were seen entering coaches through windows and hanging on to train doors and sides. When the Punjab Mail and Brahmaputra Mail reached platform number four, chaos erupted. Passengers rushed from both ends of the track to grab a place.
Unreserved compartments were the most crowded. Many travellers could barely stand or move. Some even tried to get out through windows to escape the crush. Inside the train, people opened emergency exits to help others climb in or out. The scene on the platform turned into complete disorder, with loud shouts, confusion, and a few minor scuffles breaking out among passengers.
Technical Glitch Adds to Passenger Troubles
The situation worsened when the Sampoorna Kranti Express faced a technical issue for the fourth consecutive day. One of the train’s coach doors failed to open, leaving dozens of passengers stranded outside. As the train stood on the platform, frustrated travellers started banging on the door in anger. RPF and railway maintenance staff rushed to the spot and managed to unlock the door after several minutes.
The delay added to the frustration of passengers, many of whom had already been waiting for hours in crowded conditions. The constant rain made the scene worse, flooding holding areas at Patna Junction and Rajendranagar Terminal. Passengers waiting for trains had to sit on wet floors with their bags and children. Many shifted to the platforms to stay dry, adding to the congestion.
Railway Stations Struggle to Handle the Crowd
According to railway sources, more than a dozen special trains were operated on Friday from Patna, Rajendranagar, and Danapur. These included the Howrah-Haridwar Express, Brahmaputra Mail, Shramjeevi Express, Sampoorna Kranti Express, and Patna-Kota Express. However, even with additional services, the rush of passengers remained uncontrolled.
Railway officials said that more trains were being scheduled to handle the weekend rush, but infrastructure limitations made it difficult to manage such large crowds. Many passengers, especially families and senior citizens, faced trouble boarding their trains due to lack of proper guidance and crowd management.
Passengers Complain About Poor Management
Despite the visible presence of security forces, passengers said there was little coordination on the platforms. They claimed that announcements about train timings and platform changes were unclear. Some travellers also complained about insufficient entry and exit arrangements.
“We could see RPF personnel trying to control the crowd, but there was no system,” said Pradeep Kumar, a passenger travelling to Delhi. “There were no clear instructions, and people just ran in all directions whenever a train arrived.”
The railway administration maintained that it was doing everything possible to handle the festive season rush. Officials said additional staff had been deployed at ticket counters, enquiry booths, and entry gates to assist passengers. However, they admitted that the number of travellers after Chhath was far higher than expected.
Heavy Rain Adds to Passenger Misery
Continuous rainfall in Patna worsened the already tense situation. Waterlogging in the holding areas and near the platforms forced passengers to crowd closer to train coaches. Many had no place to sit or stand comfortably. Families with children and elderly passengers struggled the most as they waited for delayed trains.
RPF Maintains Order Amid Festive Chaos
The RPF intensified its deployment across all major railway stations in Patna. Teams patrolled the platforms, removed unauthorized passengers, and tried to guide travellers toward special trains. Senior RPF officials said their priority was to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
By evening, the crowd began to thin slightly as several special trains departed. However, railway officials expect similar congestion over the next two days as the post-Chhath travel wave continues.
Bihar’s Annual Post-Festival Migration
Every year after the Chhath Puja, Bihar witnesses one of the largest seasonal migrations in the country. Lakhs of people working in metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Surat return home for the festival and rush back once it ends. The Indian Railways faces its toughest test during this period, struggling to balance safety, demand, and scheduling.
This year, the rush was no different. For thousands of passengers stranded at Patna’s crowded railway stations, the end of the Chhath festival meant not relief, but another exhausting journey home.
