Outcry in Dharmanagar After Elderly Man’s Death, Demand Grows to Extend Train Halt Two Minutes to Five Minutes
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, February 27, 2026
A strong public demand has emerged in Dharmanagar to extend the halt duration of long-distance express trains from two minutes to a minimum of five minutes at Dharmanagar Railway Station, following the tragic death of a 60-year-old man last Sunday night.
The victim, Ghost Bihari Ray, had come to the station to see off his daughter and son-in-law. In a heartbreaking turn of events, he never returned home. According to eyewitnesses, Ray was helping his daughter, son-in-law, and a child board a long-distance express train along with their luggage when the train began to move due to the brief two-minute stoppage. In the rush and confusion, he reportedly attempted to get down but met with a fatal accident.
The incident has deeply shaken the residents of Dharmanagar and has come to symbolize the daily struggles and dangers faced by railway passengers at the station. On average, three long-distance express trains pass through Dharmanagar every day. However, with only a two-minute halt, boarding and alighting often become a chaotic and risky affair.
Passengers have long complained that the extremely short stoppage creates panic and unhealthy competition among travelers. Managing luggage, guiding children and elderly family members, locating the correct coach, and settling into seats — all within two minutes is practically impossible. The situation frequently leads to pushing, confusion, and minor accidents, locals allege. Ray’s tragic death is now being viewed as the most severe consequence of this ongoing mismanagement.
In the wake of the incident, conscious citizens, civic bodies, and various local organizations have jointly demanded that the halt time for long-distance express trains be increased from two minutes to at least five minutes without further delay. They argue that such an extension is essential to ensure passenger safety and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The issue gains added significance as Janak Kumar Garg, Head of the Railway Safety Department, is scheduled to visit Dharmanagar Railway Station in the first week of March. Ahead of his visit, residents are urging authorities to take immediate and permanent corrective measures.
Peace-loving citizens of Dharmanagar have made a humble appeal to the Railway Department to recognize the value of human life and accept this reasonable demand at the earliest. According to reliable sources, if the demand is not met, opposition political parties and other organizations are preparing to launch a larger movement in the coming days to press for a permanent solution.
The tragic loss of Ghost Bihari Ray has thus become a catalyst for a broader call for railway safety reforms in Dharmanagar — a call that residents hope will not go unheard.
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