Title - Railway stations jampacked on first 'shahi snan' of Kumbh

ALLAHABAD: Heavy rush of pilgrims was seen at Allahabad junction and adjoining stations of Prayag, Prayag Ghat, Rambagh, Jhunsi, Daraganj with the start of Maha Kumbh on Monday.A large posse of Railway Police Force and Government Railway police had been deployed at the various points of the stations for the smooth flow of pilgrims.However, there were complaints about lack of facilities at the Prayag Ghat station where passengers faced problems.The arrival of large number of pilgrims started at the railway stations from Sunday evening and continued till Monday morning. The number of pilgrims again swelled at the stations on Monday evening as they arrived for return journey after taking the holy dip.Various enclosures have been set up at the Allahabad and Naini junctions for carrying pilgrims to their destination. The number of pilgrims is expected to swell as pilgrims arrive at the stations to go for their destinations.Railways is running 12 outward Mela specials from the Allahabad junction for devotees.These include three in Jhansi direction, two in Kanpur direction, two each in Fatehpur and Chunar directions and one each in Bina, Itarsi, Jabalpur and Indore directions. Eleven inward Mela special trains also arrived at Allahabad and Naini junctions, including two each from Jhansi, Jabalpur, Kanpur and one each from Fatehpur, Bina and Indore.

People from far off states like Tripura, Assam and Rajasthan have also arrived via trains in the city.

Brother duo Ashish Karmakar and Shankar Karmakar from Tripura said, "We had a wish to take dip in the Ganga. I took the dip at 12:30pm which was the most auspicious time."

Logar Lal from Udaipur in Rajasthan said, "It was great to see multitude of people assembled at one place to take dip in the Ganga. I have been blessed with taking dip during Maha Kumbh."

Chief public relations officer of NCR Sandeep Mathur said special trains are being run in accordance with the crowding at the enclosures.