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Journalism of Courage
A video from Lucknow’s Charbagh railway station has sparked outrage on social media, highlighting the ordeal faced by passengers travelling home for the festive season. The viral clip, filmed aboard the Avadh Assam Express, shows extreme overcrowding and has triggered debate over railway infrastructure, passenger safety, and the government’s repeated claims of improving travel experiences.
The video shows passengers packed so tightly that there is barely room to breathe. One man seated by the window says he has been travelling for over 24 hours in unbearable conditions — unable to move, drink water, or even use the washroom.
Identifying himself as a passenger from Rajasthan, he says, “I’ve been on this train for the past 24 hours. I can’t move and haven’t even been able to use the washroom.” He adds that he avoided drinking water because there was no space to move around. When the reporter points out that the government claims passengers are travelling comfortably, the man replies wryly, “This is comfort only.”
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The Avadh Assam Express, operated by the Northeast Frontier Railway Zone, runs between Dibrugarh in Assam and Lalgarh Junction in Rajasthan — one of India’s longest and most heavily used routes.
The video drew sharp criticism online, with many users questioning the Indian Railways’ preparedness during the festive season. One user wrote, “Ashwini Yadav sir should travel to Denmark and take a look. Local metro better than ashirvaad or vande whatever. #lotstoimprove.” Another commented, “I’m getting claustrophobic just by watching him.”
A third user said, “No respect for another human’s life. Respecting individuals’ time is a fairy tale in India. It’s shameful how Indians treat each other and accept it as normal.”
Responding to the video, Northern Railways said in a statement, “Northern Railway is continuously monitoring crowd in trains. When Awadh Assam Express reached LKO, it was overcrowded. Immediately, action was initiated. At the next station, the coach was checked and excessive crowd was dispersed in other coaches.”
