With Chhath Puja just hours away, severe delays in train services have disrupted the travel plans of thousands of passengers heading to Bihar from major cities, including Surat, Mumbai and Delhi.
Despite the Railways operating festival special and premium trains to manage the festive rush, several services bound for Patna are running 24 to 26 hours behind schedule, leaving passengers stranded and affecting their plans to celebrate Diwali and Chhath with their families.
The extent of the disruption is evident from the delays reported in several trains. The 04052 Howrah Special is running 25 hours and 59 minutes late, while the 04404 Patna Jansadharan Festival Special is delayed by 25 hours and 54 minutes.
The Bhagalpur Special from Anand Vihar and the Rajendranagar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express are also running approximately 24 hours late.
Other services from Maharashtra and Gujarat have been affected as well. The Patna Superfast Express from Mumbai CSMT is running nine hours late, while the Bhagalpur Superfast from Mumbai LTT is delayed by more than eight hours. The Bhagalpur Superfast from Surat to Patna is also running around nine-and-a-half hours behind schedule.
The prolonged delays have resulted in overcrowding and chaos at Patna Junction. Passengers are reportedly struggling to board general and sleeper coaches, with scenes of pushing and jostling at train entrances.
Families travelling with young children and elderly members have been particularly affected, spending long hours waiting at the station. Many are also concerned about missing connecting trains because of the uncertainty surrounding arrival schedules.
The disruption has triggered frustration among passengers, with concerns being raised over railway management and the arrangements made to handle the annual festive rush during one of Bihar’s most significant religious celebrations.