Festive Gridlock: 1-KM Jams & Train Bathroom Chaos

The festive spirit of Diwali has been severely marred by an unprecedented travel crisis across India, transforming the annual journey home into a nightmare for millions. As expressways ground to a halt with kilometer-long traffic jams, the country’s railway network simultaneously buckled under the massive passenger load, leading to shocking scenes of overcrowding, including reports of travellers being forced to shelter in train bathrooms.

Expressways Erupt in Gridlock

Key national highways and expressways, including the vital corridors connecting major metropolitan cities, witnessed scenes of utter chaos over the weekend as the great Diwali exodus reached its peak. Reports confirm that toll plazas on routes like the Yamuna Expressway and Agra Expressway saw vehicle queues stretching for over a kilometer, with commuters reporting hours-long delays. The sheer volume of traffic, intensified by the confluence of long-weekend holiday travel and last-minute festive shopping, choked main arteries in and around the National Capital Region (NCR), with South Delhi’s roads and key flyovers reduced to a slow, agonising crawl. Outside of the NCR, similar gridlock was reported in Maharashtra and other regions, signaling a nationwide collapse in travel infrastructure management during the peak season.

Railway Nightmare: Battle for Space

The situation on India’s rail network proved equally, if not more, distressing. Railway stations like New Delhi and Anand Vihar were overwhelmed, struggling to manage the colossal influx of passengers. Despite the Indian Railways running numerous ‘festival special’ trains, the demand far outstripped capacity.

The conditions inside the trains were described as appalling. General coaches were packed to a point where passengers had no space to sit, let alone move. Disturbingly, numerous reports and social media visuals confirmed that desperate passengers, unable to find any standing room, resorted to occupying the small, unhygienic washroom areas of the coaches for the duration of their long journeys. For those with reserved seats, the journey was only marginally better, with one traveller reporting it took hours just to push through the packed compartments to reach their designated seat after boarding. This extreme overcrowding has not only caused immense discomfort but has also raised significant safety concerns, blocking access to amenities and exits.

Safety Measures and Delays

In an attempt to manage the volatile crowds, police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been heavily deployed at major platforms. Ropes and barricades have been installed to regulate the flow of people and prevent a chaotic rush onto the tracks. However, the travel woes were compounded by significant train delays. Despite the promise of special services, many festival trains were running hours, and in some cases, over half a day late, leaving passengers stranded and disrupting the plans of families aiming to celebrate the Festival of Lights together.

The travel ordeal underscores the critical challenge the country faces in managing the mass movement of its population during its most important festive season, with millions paying a high price in comfort, time, and safety for their annual homecoming. Authorities are appealing to passengers to plan ahead and utilize public transport where possible, but for the millions who rely on the existing road and rail network, the Diwali journey has become a harrowing chapter in their holiday celebrations.