Rail Blockade at Jirania Over Severe Overcrowding on Agartala–Karimganj Passenger Train, Hundreds of Commuters Stranded

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 15, 2026

A major disruption in railway services was reported at Jirania Railway Station on Monday morning after angry passengers staged a rail blockade protesting against extreme overcrowding on the Agartala–Karimganj passenger train. The agitation continued for more than two hours, causing significant inconvenience to commuters and affecting train operations on the route.

According to reports, the Agartala–Karimganj passenger train departed from Agartala Railway Station at around 7:20 am carrying an unusually large number of passengers. The train was reportedly overcrowded from the beginning of its journey, leaving little room for additional commuters boarding at subsequent stations.

At Badharghat Railway Station, a large number of passengers attempted to board the train, but many were unable to do so due to the lack of space inside the coaches. Similar scenes were witnessed at Jogendranagar Railway Station, where several passengers were left stranded as the train continued its journey packed beyond capacity.

The situation escalated when the train reached Jirania Railway Station. A substantial number of waiting passengers found themselves unable to board the train as all coaches were already filled to capacity. Frustrated by the recurring problem and the absence of adequate accommodation for commuters, many passengers descended onto the railway tracks and launched a protest, blocking rail movement.

The blockade led to a temporary suspension of railway operations in the area, affecting passengers travelling on the route and creating widespread inconvenience. Commuters alleged that despite a steady rise in passenger traffic, railway authorities have failed to increase the number of coaches or introduce additional train services to meet the growing demand.

Railway officials and concerned administrative authorities rushed to the station after receiving information about the protest. They engaged with the agitating passengers and initiated efforts to restore normalcy and resume train services.

Protesters demanded immediate measures to address the chronic overcrowding issue, including the addition of extra coaches, increased train frequency, and improvements in passenger amenities and overall railway services. They argued that commuters have been facing similar difficulties repeatedly, particularly during peak travel hours, and that the situation has now reached a breaking point.

The incident once again highlights the mounting pressure on Tripura’s railway network and underscores the urgent need for capacity enhancement to accommodate the increasing number of daily passengers using the Agartala–Karimganj rail corridor.

Rail services were eventually restored after discussions between railway authorities and the protesting passengers, though commuters urged officials to take concrete steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

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