Group D candidates angry after multiple trains cancelled on Howrah route on exam day

Thousands of candidates appearing for the SSC Group D Examination faced difficulties after several local trains were cancelled in the Howrah railway division due to maintenance work. According to railway sources, multiple local trains in the Bardhaman, Bandel and Dankuni sections were either cancelled or rescheduled, affecting regular commuter services. The disruption coincided with the day of the Group D recruitment examination, for which nearly eight lakh candidates had applied across the state.

Many candidates who left their homes early in the morning found themselves stranded at stations as trains were cancelled or running significantly late. The examination was scheduled to begin at noon, forcing several candidates to seek alternative travel arrangements. Some candidates said they had started their journeys as early as 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning to ensure they reached their exam centres on time. However, due to the disruption in train services, many had to switch to road transport such as buses, taxis and shared vehicles.

Candidates expressed frustration, saying the railways should have considered the exam schedule before cancelling trains. Several examinees pointed out that the examination date had been announced long ago, and better planning could have prevented the inconvenience. While some trains continued to run, commuters reported delays of more than half an hour on several routes, adding to the anxiety among candidates trying to reach their centres before the start of the exam.