Post-exam rush swamps UP trains, reserved coaches overrun

Lucknow: Thousands of candidates returning after the Uttar Pradesh police constable recruitment examination led to heavy rush on trains on Tuesday, with several reserved-coach passengers alleging severe inconvenience due to unauthorised occupancy of seats, aisles and coach entry points.

While Northern Railway and North Central Railway said they operated special unreserved trains and made crowd-management arrangements at major stations, including Lucknow, Kanpur and Prayagraj, passengers reported that the crowd spilled into reserved compartments.

In train number 12179, passengers in coach C2 alleged that berths 28 and 29 were surrounded by unauthorised occupants and that complaints made through the 139 helpline did not result in effective action by ticket-checking staff.

Similar complaints were posted about Purushottam Superfast Express (12801), where passengers alleged AC 3-tier coach B5 and 2AC coaches were packed with ticketless travellers occupying seats and aisles, raising safety concerns and prompting allegations of inaction by onboard staff.

In Bundelkhand Express (11108), passengers claimed hundreds entered AC coaches, occupied reserved seats and filled galleries, with objections allegedly met with verbal abuse and delayed response to helpline calls.

A Gomti Express (12420) passenger posted videos alleging unauthorised entry into reserved coach D12 from the originating station, absence of ticket-checking for long stretches, vomiting inside the coach, missing luggage and RailMadad complaints being closed without resolution.