Four detained after Kumbh Mela pilgrims vandalise train at Madhubani railway station

Patna/Madhubani: Tension flared at the Madhubani and Samastipur railway stations late Monday evening when a group of Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrims, unable to board the overcrowded Jayanagar-New Delhi Swatantrata Senani Express (12561), vandalised the train's air-conditioned (AC) coaches in a desperate bid to enter into it. They started pelting stones at the train after the doors of the AC coaches were not opened by the passengers.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) detained four people in Samastipur for allegedly pelting stones on the train, said a senior railway official.
The train, which was heading to New Delhi, was packed with passengers, many of whom were travelling to the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. There was chaos at the station with passengers pushing and shoving each other. Unable to board the train due to the heavy rush, some of the pilgrims allegedly damaged the AC coaches (A1 and B5), causing distress among other passengers and the train staff.
Similar situation emerged at the Samastipur Junction, where the rush persisted as pilgrims struggled to board trains for the Kumbh Mela, railway sources said.
According to Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM), Vinay Srivastava, the incident prompted a swift response from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), who reached the spot to control the situation. The RPF officials at Madhubani registered a case of vandalism and public misbehaviour against the unidentified miscreants.
"We have launched an investigation into the matter, and are collecting footage from security cameras and speaking with witnesses to identify the individuals involved in the incident," he said, adding that Samastipur RPF has detained four people so far in this connection.
A passenger Raushan Kumar, who had confirmed tickets for his five family members, could not board the train, while Prakash Kumar was denied entry into the compartment with two others. The railways booked tickets worth Rs 10 lakh for Prayagraj from Jayanagar alone on Monday, sources said, adding that Swatantrata Senani Express was detained for about half an hour at Madhubani.
Railway sources said the railways would now take additional measures to manage the influx of passengers to ensure their safety at Darbhanga, Madhubani and Samastipur.
According to the DRM, the railways has directed the RPF, train ticket examiners (TTE), and other commercial staff on duty at these stations to guide and help the Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrims to board trains safely. "The railways has put into operation special trains originating from Darbhanga, Raxaul, Jayanagar and Saharsa to facilitate devotees to reach Prayagraj on Tuesday," he said.