Back to base, to the city of mismanagements and chaos, Varanasi.
So, unable to find a cab to Jhunsi bus stand from my workplace, I tried my luck with trains and found AVL seats in current in SL of Sarnath Express.
Since...
more... it was a small journey, I didn't bother with AC or VB. And did I regret my decision, yes. SL nowadays is a dumpster fire. The coach got packed like GS, and no one seemed to have basic social skills. Add it up with the travel on a branch line.
There was an ACP on every major station enroute, halting or non-halting. No one had a ticket, still everyone seemed to have CNF seats, with seat numbers. This is the reason IR doesn't divert major trains on these branch lines.
Well, the train arrived BSB almost on time. But since no one has an idea in Varanasi how things function, no official was to be seen, even though half of the Mahakumbh crowd is coming to BSB. With no one to regulate, the mannerless crowd went rogue and for 5 minutes, no one could enter or exit the coach.
Someone did an ACP again to let the stranded passengers deboard, and again 'widely publicized' crowd management capabilities of BSB/NR or even Varanasi administration were nowhere to be seen. This is the level of development the world strives for.
1. Main station building of Prayagraj Junction, through Gate No. 5. For people coming to Mahakumbh, this is the entrance you need to find if you've reserved tickets.
2. RPM WAP-7, 30331 bringing in 15160, Sarnath Express on PF-8 of PRYJ.
3. Large TB of 15160, Durg-Chhapra Sarnath Express.
4. Small TBs of my coach S4. Maintenance was okay-ish. If not for the damage done by passengers, I'd say way better than the ODSK.
5. Station board of Bhadohi, BOY/NR, glowing in the golden rays of the evening sun.
6. Beautiful station building of Lohta, LOT/NR.
7. Since I couldn't capture anything related to BSB, here's a snap of BHU Gate and the traffic jam of Lanka.
Kumud.