Kolkata, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A heavy influx of pilgrims has been reported at railway stations serving Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand and Tarakeswar in West Bengal amid the ongoing Shravani Mela, with more than 2.8 lakh devotees using railway facilities on Sunday alone.
Eastern Railway (ER) officials said August 9, the 11th day of the month-long religious festival, witnessed particularly heavy movement of pilgrims. Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar is among the 12 Jyotirlingas and attracts millions of devotees during the Shravan period.
While passenger footfall at Jasidih declined by 13.63 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year, several other stations recorded substantial growth.
Jasidih handled 72,890 passengers on Sunday, against 84,392 in 2025. Sultanganj recorded 1,06,640 inward passengers, up 39.43 per cent from 76,481 last year. Basukinath handled 17,850 passengers, a 9.47 per cent increase over 16,306 in 2025, while Deoghar recorded 21,582 passengers, up 11.08 per cent from 19,429.
ER has made extensive arrangements to manage the pilgrimage rush, including special trains, medical facilities, dedicated holding areas and enhanced surveillance to prevent stampede-like situations. The stations are being monitored round-the-clock, while additional automatic ticket vending machines have also been deployed with operators.
Medical teams provided assistance to 632 pilgrims at Basukinath, 301 at Jasidih, 189 at Deoghar, 145 at Tarakeshwar, 90 at Baidyanath Dham and 82 at Sultanganj.
Wheelchair facilities were also provided to elderly and differently abled devotees, including eight at Tarakeshwar, seven at Jasidih and one each at Deoghar, Basukinath and Sultanganj.
According to ER, 32 special trains comprising 478 coaches were operated at Jasidih, 18 trains with 234 coaches at Deoghar, 10 with 120 coaches at Basukinath and six at Baidyanath Dham. Six pairs of special trains were also operated at Sultanganj, while additional coaches were attached to regular services.
ER Chief Public Relations Officer Shibram Majhi said dedicated railway personnel and medical teams were working round-the-clock at key stations to provide prompt assistance and ensure a smooth journey for pilgrims.
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