Passengers give up seats to Army jawans on NE Express, urge railways to provide for them

In a moving display of public support for the Indian armed forces, passengers on board the North East Express gave up their seats for around forty soldiers who were traveling to Guwahati without reserved tickets. These soldiers, who had cancelled personal plans including weddings, were en route to duty amid heightened national tensions.

The soldiers boarded the train from Kanpur and Fatehpur, but with no available reservations, they stood cramped near the toilets of an AC coach. A TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) approached and instructed them to move to the unreserved compartment. The situation deeply upset many co-passengers, who quickly decided to act.

One such passenger, Binay Saxena, recorded a video capturing the situation and posted it on social media. He tagged the Railway Minister and senior officials, questioning, "Thousands of trains are running for Mahakumbh. In the current situation, will our soldiers have to travel like this to join duty?"

As the train reached Prayagraj station, the viral video triggered an immediate response from railway authorities. Officials boarded the train, and with the help of passengers, managed to provide proper seating for the soldiers. Many travelers voluntarily vacated their seats or squeezed into corners to accommodate the jawans, offering heartfelt words of gratitude and respect.

The soldiers expressed their appreciation with humility. One of them shared, “My wedding was on May 18. That can wait. But protecting the nation cannot.” This powerful statement reflected the level of sacrifice many soldiers are currently making in response to the tense border situation.

The North East Express, which travels from Anand Vihar (Delhi) to Kamakhya (Assam), had picked up the soldiers from intermediate stations. This act of unity and patriotism from everyday citizens made their difficult journey more comfortable and reminded everyone of the value of empathy and respect toward those who protect the nation.