The claim of over 13,000 trains operating during the Kumbh Mela has raised doubts following an unsatisfactory response from the Indian Railways under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In January, the Railways had announced that over 13,000 trains, including special services, would operate over a 46-day period for pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj. However, when asked for specific data on the number of trains, the Ministry of Railways failed to provide clear details. Instead, they stated that applicants would need to submit separate RTI requests to the respective railway zones for accurate information. This has sparked speculation about the accuracy of the original claim made by the Railway Board.

The question now is: if such information is unavailable, how did the Railway Board come up with the figure of 13,000 trains? Was this a misleading statement made to impress the public? This uncertainty comes after multiple allegations of mismanagement during the Kumbh, particularly regarding overcrowding and the tragic incident on February 15, where 18 people were killed at New Delhi station due to stampede-like conditions. While the Railways had repeatedly justified its actions, claiming the provision of sufficient special trains, the lack of clear RTI data continues to fuel skepticism.