A senior railway official in Bihar was left astonished when a group of rural women claimed that they had been permitted to travel without tickets, allegedly due to an endorsement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The incident unfolded at the Buxar railway station, located on the border of Uttar Pradesh, and has since gone viral on social media.
The video captured a conversation between Danapur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Jayant Kumar and the women, who were heading to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The DRM was conducting an inspection at the station on Sunday, anticipating a larger-than-expected crowd of pilgrims heading to the massive religious gathering.
This was especially pertinent following the tragic stampede at New Delhi railway station the previous night, which resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people.
While at the station, the DRM noticed a group of women of various age groups standing near the railway tracks. Concerned about their presence, he approached them and inquired about their plans.
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The women explained that they were waiting for a train to Prayagraj to attend the Kumbh. When asked if they had tickets, the women admitted they did not.
In response, the DRM asked, “Who told you that you can travel without tickets?” The women, with confidence, replied, “Narendra Modi told us so,” a statement that prompted a brief moment of disbelief and a grin from onlookers. It took the DRM a few seconds to regain his composure.
He clarified, “You are mistaken. Neither the Prime Minister nor any other authority has given such permission. If you wish to travel, you must purchase tickets, as traveling without one is against the law.”
The DRM also added, in a conversation with reporters later, that arrangements had been made for the Maha Kumbh crowd on the scale typically seen during major festive periods. However, the DRM noted that the crowds had persisted longer than expected, which was unusual.
The Maha Kumbh is scheduled to officially conclude on February 26, coinciding with the Maha Shivratri festival. Official estimates suggest that over 50 crore people have visited Prayagraj so far for the holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati River.
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