In a disturbing turn of events, the Sirhind Railway Station in Fatehgarh Sahib witnessed a wave of chaos and vandalism as hundreds of passengers expressed their frustration by vandalizing the station premises. The upheaval ensued after a ‘Chhath’ special train, bound for Bihar, was abruptly canceled.
According to the Northern Railways, the cancellation was attributed to a delay in the arrival of the connecting rake, causing the train to be put back at 3 in the morning. The railway authorities asserted that regular announcements were made at the station to keep passengers informed.
The ‘Chhath’ special train was introduced by the Railways to facilitate travel for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival, predominantly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The special trains aimed to provide a convenient journey for residents working in other parts of India to return home for the festival, discouraging unreserved and roof-traveling practices.
One of these special trains, originating from Punjab’s Sirhind and destined for Bihar’s Katihar, was scheduled to depart on Tuesday.
Reports suggest that irate passengers resorted to stone-pelting at Sirhind Railway Station following the cancellation of the special train. The video footage captured the chaos, with travelers gathered on platforms and railway tracks, throwing stones at railway police and some parked passenger trains.
The incident comes merely three days after a tragic episode at Surat railway station in Gujarat, where a Bihar-bound special train for Chhath witnessed chaos during boarding, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old man and hospitalization of two others.
In response to the escalating situation at Sirhind Railway Station, a sizable contingent of Government Railway Police (GRP) was dispatched to regain control. Despite the widespread agitation, the Railway managed to arrange for the Chhath Puja special train, which departed from Sirhind at 3 am, heading for Bihar. No legal cases have been registered in connection with the incident.
The disgruntled passengers, bound for Bihar, staged a protest against the non-arrival of the Chhath Puja special train on Tuesday night, venting their frustration by pelting stones at a passenger train stationed at Sirhind Railway Station. Passengers expressed disappointment with the railways, stating that despite purchasing tickets at premium rates, they were not provided with adequate facilities. Railway officials assured the passengers that their tickets remained valid and could be utilized on the train scheduled for the following day.
Sirhind GRP police station in-charge Gurdarshan Singh clarified that the passenger unrest stemmed from rumours about the train's cancellation. He affirmed that a special train did eventually arrive at Sirhind Railway Station at 3 am, and all passengers successfully boarded. The situation has been brought under control, and no formal case has been registered.
