On August 29 2026 Indian Railways implemented special arrangements to assist 106 pilgrims returning to India after being stranded in Nepal due to severe flooding during a Shiv Mahapuran Katha. The group consisting predominantly of travelers from Maharashtra had been successfully evacuated to Sitamarhi on August 28 before being transported onward to Patna according to official reports.
- 106 pilgrims from Maharashtra stranded by Nepal floods were safely assisted back home.
- East Central Railway and Danapur Division deployed special commercial RPF and medical teams at Patna Junction.
- Two additional AC-3 tier coaches were attached to the 17609 Patna-Purna Express heading towards Nagpur.
To facilitate this mass transit operation smoothly the East Central Railway and the Danapur Division deployed dedicated commercial Railway Protection Force and medical teams at Patna Junction. East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Saraswati Chandra confirmed that
two additional AC-3 tier coaches were attached to the 17609 Patna-Purna Express to comfortably accommodate the travelers on their direct route to Nagpur in Maharashtra. Furthermore a dedicated ticket counter was established right at Patna Junction to streamline the boarding process and save valuable time for the exhausted passengers.
At both Patna Junction and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction railway authorities including Divisional Railway Manager Uday Singh Meena personally coordinated the prompt provision of essential food fresh water hot tea and continuous medical support. Dr. K.N. Pandey district coordinator of the BJP Medical Cell along with his dedicated team conducted thorough health screenings and distributed necessary medications to all the pilgrims to ensure they were fit for the long train journey. This successful rescue and transit operation was executed through a commendable collaborative effort involving the Indian Railways the Bihar government the Maharashtra government and the Nepal government. The relieved pilgrims publicly expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the swift intervention that guaranteed their safe passage back home.
