Chhath Marred By Major Train Delays And Heavy Crowds At Patna Junction

Travelers preparing for chhath are facing severe disruptions as trains arriving in Patna experience massive delays of up to twenty-six hours. Services originating from Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Howrah, and other major cities have slowed to a crawl ahead of the widely celebrated festival across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. With rituals set to begin shortly, the operational challenges have left passengers uncertain about reaching their hometowns on time.

Both regular express services and festival specials are impacted, with long-distance trains running hours behind schedule. The Howrah Special Fare Special is delayed by nearly twenty-six hours, while the Patna Jansadharan Festival Special faces a similar delay of over twenty-five hours. Premium connections, including the Amrit Bharat Express, Tejas Rajdhani Express, and Brahmaputra Mail, are also affected, alongside regular superfast services from Mumbai and Surat.

Severe railway delays and massive crowds disrupt travel for families heading home for chhath.

The widespread delays have triggered heavy congestion at Patna Junction. Frustrated passengers are jostling to board available services, leading to massive crowds standing near coach doors, corridors, and washrooms. Many individuals arrive at stations early or attempt to board alternative trains to reach their destinations, intensifying the strain on the railway network.

Families traveling with children and the elderly are enduring lengthy waits on platforms amidst constant changes to arrival and departure schedules. Furthermore, these disruptions have adversely affected passengers relying on connecting trains to reach other parts of the state, turning their journeys into an ordeal.

Why it matters Ahead of the chhath festival, the railway disruptions directly impact thousands of passengers trying to reunite with their families. The combination of extended delays and severe station congestion highlights operational vulnerabilities during peak festive travel periods, leaving travelers stranded and anxious across major transit hubs.