Stones Pelted At Train Heading To Prayagraj With Devotees For Mahakumbh

A train windowpane on a journey from Surat to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh was damaged when a stone or stones struck its laminated glass surface while passing through Jalgaon in Maharashtra, according to a video that has sparked concern among devotees.

The incident occurred in the B6 coach of the Prayagraj Tapti Ganga Express, which carried 13 passengers, including women, children, and devotees.

"Today we have left for Prayagraj from Surat Udhna. Today is 12th January. All the passengers are with us. At least 3 km ahead of Jalgaon, a stone was thrown by some anti-social elements. We request the Railway Minister to provide security to us," said Rajendra Gupta, a passenger in the affected coach, while showing the damaged window.

The video of the incident is gaining traction on social media.

Approximately 45 per cent of the passengers on the train are travelling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh.

The Central Railway and local police have launched an investigation into the incident.

"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 lodged," stated Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway.

The train is scheduled to reach Prayagraj in the morning.

Railway Police are examining CCTV footage as part of the investigation.

This year's Maha Kumbh, running from 13th January to 26th February, is anticipated to draw massive crowds, as it coincides with a special planetary alignment.

The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology, which recounts a battle between deities and demons for control of a pitcher, or kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality. It is held at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati rivers.

According to mythology, during the cosmic event known as "Samudra Manthan," or the "churning of the ocean," four drops of nectar were spilt. One landed in Prayagraj, where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years. The other drops fell in Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar, where smaller Kumbh festivals take place in the intervening years.

The previous celebration at Prayagraj, the "Ardh" or half Kumbh Mela in 2019, reportedly attracted 240 million pilgrims, according to government figures.

A key ritual of the festival is bathing in the sacred rivers. On the most auspicious dates, this practice is known as 'Shahi Snan', or the "royal bath."

Hindus believe that immersing oneself in these waters cleanses sins, breaks the cycle of rebirth, and ultimately leads to salvation.