Passengers pelt stones at trains bound for Maha Kumbh in MP after finding doors locked | Watch

On Tuesday, January 28, incidents of stone-pelting took place at two railway stations in Madhya Pradesh, as passengers traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela discovered the doors to their trains locked. The incidents occurred at Chhatarpur and Harpalpur railway stations, both located in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. These stations were key departure points for special trains en route to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which attracts millions of devotees for the "Amrit Snan" on Mauni Amavasya, scheduled for January 29.

The disturbances began when passengers, crowded at the stations to board the trains, found that the compartment doors were locked. Eyewitnesses reported that the passengers became frustrated and, unable to board, began throwing stones at the trains and trying to force open the doors. Several videos that circulated on social media showed people pelting stones at the trains, breaking windows, and attempting to break open the doors, causing panic among those already inside. The incidents led to significant damage to the train windows.

Passengers pelt stones at trains bound for Maha Kumbh in MP after finding doors locked | Watch

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Railway authorities acted quickly to address the situation. Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel were deployed at the stations to control the crowd. At Chhatarpur station, GRP personnel opened the doors of the train, but due to overcrowding, many passengers could not board. Passengers continued to try and board the train by breaking windows, which led to further unrest. The police managed to intervene, bringing the situation under control. The train, after the disturbance, was allowed to continue its journey to Prayagraj.

Manoj Kumar Singh, Public Relations Officer for the Jhansi Railway Division, confirmed that the dispute regarding boarding trains at Chhatarpur and Harpalpur stations had been noted. The Railways had been running special trains to Prayagraj in anticipation of the large number of pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh, and they planned to continue operating these trains according to demand. To avoid further incidents, the Railway Division assured that stricter security measures would be implemented, including better coordination with local administration.

The authorities also urged passengers to cooperate and adhere to the guidelines to avoid such situations during the peak period of the Maha Kumbh. Additional special trains were expected to be run to accommodate the high volume of passengers traveling to Prayagraj. The railways and local authorities emphasized the importance of maintaining order and following security measures to ensure safe and smooth travel during the festival.