Bihar, 11 February 2025: Madhubani Railway Station in Bihar descended into chaos on Monday as frustrated passengers en route to the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh shattered the glass windows of the Swatantrata Senani Super Fast Express after failing to board the packed train.
Videos from the scene captured the unrest, showing agitated passengers hurling stones at the train and breaking windows of AC compartments, sending panic through those seated inside. A video showed two women inside the AC coach screaming as a window shattered beside them.
Eyewitnesses said the train, which was traveling from Jainagar to New Delhi via Prayagraj, was already overcrowded upon arrival, preventing its doors from opening. Many passengers on board and waiting at the station were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Passengers claimed there was no security presence at the station when the incident adhered.
The train remained halted at Madhubani for an hour before resuming its journey without repairs. Railway officials confirmed several individuals involved in the disturbance were detained.
Second Attack in Samastipur
A similar incident occurred in Bihar’s Samastipur district on Thursday night when the Swatantrata Senani Express was pelted with stones while traveling from Jainagar to Delhi along the Muzaffarpur-Samastipur route.
The attack, which began as the train reached the outer signal of Samastipur Railway Station around 8:45 p.m., caused minor injuries to passengers and shattered windows in sleeper coaches and the pantry car.
The train halted briefly at Samastipur before departing for Muzaffarpur but was delayed by 45 minutes due to the attack. Samastipur Railway Police have registered a case against unidentified persons and are working to trace the culprits. The motive behind the stone pelting remains unclear.
