Two individuals were detained for allegedly pelting a train with stones at Madhubani railway station in Bihar as they tried to enter an air-conditioned coach which was locked from inside amid rush for Maha Kumbh Mela, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The incident took place late on Monday night when Delhi-bound Swatantrata Senani Express reached Madhubani station, Samastipur Divisional Railway Manager Vinay Shrivastava said.
"The station was choc-a-bloc, with a large number of people hoping to catch a train for the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh," he said.
Since coaches of general and sleeper classes were filled to capacity, many tried to enter an air-conditioned coach following which passengers locked the doors from inside.
"This led to an angry response from the crowds outside. The people started hurling stones at the compartment and banged the window panes, causing these to crack," the DRM added.
The railway station turned chaotic on Monday as a large crowd of passengers, unable to board the Swatantrata Senani Super Fast Express, resorted to vandalism. The train was en route from Bihar's Jainagar to New Delhi via Prayagraj, with many passengers heading to the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh.
Passengers break windows in protest
Videos of the incident show frustrated passengers throwing stones at the train, smashing the glass windows of AC compartments. Panic spread among those inside as the crowd outside attempted to force their way in.
Eyewitnesses reported that the train was already overcrowded, making it difficult for passengers inside to open the doors. Many of those at the station were eager to reach Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.
One of the videos captures two women sitting inside an AC compartment when a passenger shatters the window near them, causing them to scream in fear. Another clip shows the train's broken windows as bystanders record the chaos.
No security, say passengers
"I was traveling to Delhi with my family when they started breaking windows. Everyone panicked, including our children, who began shouting in fear," said Amarnath Jha, a passenger. He also complained that there were no security arrangements by railway authorities when the incident occurred.
The train remained halted at Madhubani station for an hour before departing without any repairs. Railway officials later detained several passengers involved in the ruckus.
Also read: World's longest traffic jam at Maha Kumbh: 300 km gridlock reaches MP
Stone pelting in Samastipur
In a separate incident, the Swatantrata Senani Express was attacked in Bihar's Samastipur district on Thursday night. Stones were thrown at the train while it was traveling on the Muzaffarpur-Samastipur route, shattering windows of the pantry car and sleeper coaches. Some passengers sustained minor injuries and were treated at a hospital in Samastipur.
Railway police in Samastipur have filed a case against unidentified individuals and are investigating the motive behind the attack. The incident occurred near the outer signal of the Samastipur Railway Station at around 8:45 pm, delaying the train by 45 minutes.
Also Read: No vehicle zone declared ahead of Maghi Purnima snan
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