Passengers faced crowding and restricted movement at Pune railway station on Wednesday evening after the Jodhpur–Hadapsar train and the Pune–Nagpur Garib Rath arrived at the same platform at around the same time.
The Pune–Nagpur Garib Rath, train number 12113, was scheduled to depart at 5.35 pm. Passengers had already gathered at the platform to board the train when the Jodhpur–Hadapsar service reached the same platform at around 5.30 pm. Travellers getting off one train and those waiting to board the other then converged in the same space.
The resulting crowd temporarily restricted movement on the platform. Passengers carrying bags and other luggage reportedly struggled to move through the congested area. Elderly people, women and travellers with more luggage were among those who faced particular difficulty, according to the report.
Some passengers waiting to board the Garib Rath were reportedly forced to remain on the train’s steps for about 10 minutes because of the congestion. The situation affected both people leaving the arriving train and those attempting to reach the coaches of the departing service.
Passenger Ujwala Sambhare said the Garib Rath was scheduled to leave at 5.35 pm, while the Jodhpur–Hadapsar train arrived at the same platform around that time. She also said that the platform number for the Garib Rath was not announced clearly or in time, increasing the confusion and prompting passengers to move hurriedly.
The incident has raised questions about platform allocation and the timing of passenger announcements at Pune railway station. When two services use the same platform in quick succession, the available space must accommodate passengers alighting from one train, travellers waiting to board another and the movement of luggage along the platform.
The report said an attempt was made to obtain a response from the railway administration regarding the incident, but officials could not be contacted. No official explanation was available on the platform allocation, the announcement timing or whether any operational review would follow.
