LUCKNOW, Feb. 17 -- Amid the huge Mahakumbh rush, Prayagraj seems a destination too far for the pilgrims eager for a tryst with the Sangam as passengers jostle to get to into trains in almost daily scenes of chaos at the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow. The day after the New Delhi railway station stampede, there was three-layer security comprising the Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police and City Police, at the Charbagh station and other major railway stations in the city on Sunday. Senior police and railway officers were on their toes to manage the crowd.

Sample this. Around 9.20am, there was an announcement from the public address system at the Lucknow NR station: "Train number 04404 Kumbh Special travelling from Del...