To accommodate the influx of devotees during the Shravani Mela, the Indian Railways has announced changes to train schedules and halts. Starting July 22nd and lasting until August 19th, several weekly trains will have extended halts at Sultan Ganj, with some even terminating there. Notably, the Kiul Jamalpur DEMU passenger train...
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will be extended to Sultan Ganj. Additionally, all mail, express, and passenger trains stopping at Jasidih station for less than 5 minutes will now have extended halts. The Shravani Mela, a significant pilgrimage, draws millions of devotees to offer water at the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple, with some even traveling from overseas. To further ease congestion, the railways are also planning to operate six special trains between various locations, including Jaynagar-Asansol, Raxoul-Devghar, Gaya-Madhupur, Patna-Madhupur, Saraygarh-Devghar, and Gorakhpur-Devghar, starting July 22nd.

On March 15th, a passenger traveling on the Malda Town Anand Vihar Express (Train No. 13429) from Jamalpur, Bihar, to Anand Vihar, Delhi, experienced a harrowing journey due to overcrowding in the AC coach. Despite having a reserved 2-tier AC berth, the passenger encountered several issues, including a woman occupying her...
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seat, a lack of space due to non-ticket holders, and constant quarrels between passengers. The situation worsened with the presence of men consuming alcohol, even though it's banned in Bihar. The lack of assistance from railway staff, including the TTE, coach attendant, and RPF, added to the distress. The passenger was unable to use the washroom for 10 hours and felt unsafe due to the chaotic environment. The overcrowding subsided only after the train reached Varanasi Junction, where most of the non-ticket holders deboarded. The passenger's experience highlights the recurring problem of overcrowding in Indian trains and raises concerns about passenger safety and the effectiveness of railway management.