A window of a train traveling from Surat to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh was damaged after a stone or stones hit the laminated glass surface while it was passing through Jalgaon in Maharashtra, a video showed, sparking fear among devotees.
The incident was reported by the B6 coach – who was carrying 13 people – women, children and devotees – of the Prayagraj Tapti Ganga Express.
“Today we left for Prayagraj from Surat Udhna. Today is January 12. All passengers are with us. At least 3 km before Jalgaon, a stone was thrown by some anti-social elements. We request the Railway Minister to ensure safety for us,” said Rajendfra Gupta, a passenger in the stricken bus, while showing the damaged window.
The video of the incident is steadily going viral on social media.
About 45 percent of the people on the train go to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh.
The Central Railways and the police have started an investigation into the matter.
“A stone was thrown on this train coming from Surat Udhna, near Jalgaon. In this case, immediate action was taken by the Railway Protection Force and four teams were deployed on the train. A complaint has also been filed,” said Swapnil Neela. , Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway.
The train will reach Prayagraj in the morning.
The camera images are being investigated by the Railway Police.
This edition of Maha Kumbh, from January 13 to February 26, is expected to be a mega draw as it will coincide with a special alignment of the planets.
The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology, a battle between gods and demons for control of a jar, or kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality, and is held at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati rivers.
During the battle, a cosmic battle called “Samudra Manthan”, or the “churning of the ocean”, four drops of nectar were spilled. One landed in Prayagraj, where the Kumbh is held every twelve years. The other declines came in Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar, cities that have hosted smaller Kumbh festivals in the intervening years.
The last celebration at the site, the 'ardh' or half Kumbh Mela in 2019, attracted 240 million pilgrims, according to the government.
A central part of the rituals is bathing in the sacred rivers. On the most auspicious dates it is known as Shahi Snan, or 'royal bath'.
Hindus believe that those who immerse themselves in water cleanse themselves of sin, break free from the cycle of rebirth, and ultimately achieve salvation.
(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)