Authorities of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) are running extra trains to tackle passenger rush during this festive season and have taken a slew of measures to manage the crowds at different stations under the railway zone.

The initiatives, sources said, were taken after the October 27 stampede at Bandra railway station in Mumbai. Hundreds of passengers tried to board a train in motion, injuring at least nine persons seriously.

“We have made arrangements including setting up CCTV control rooms to keep close watch on the crowded areas and provide real-time assistance to passengers. Queue systems for entering general coaches have been adopted at originating stations. Proper announcements regarding trains and coaches are being made well in advance so that passengers get time to reach the platforms without running,” said K.K. Sharma, the NFR chief public relations officer.

“Every year, we rush special trains to clear the rush of passengers on the occasion of Diwali and Chhath Puja. This year, we are working on crowd management as well,” Sharma added.

So far, the NFR has run 44 pairs of special trains, which have made more than 500 trips.

“We run special trains to clear the rush. These trains connect major destinations in eastern and northern parts of the country such as Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for Diwali and Chhath Puja,” said a railway official.

The NFR, sources said, has also launched a special campaign during the festive season to sensitise passengers on rules while boarding and deboarding trains during the rush, the official added.

Senior officials of the commercial department have been posted at major stations to monitor passengers and regulate the crowd. Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police personnel have also been deployed on platforms, foot overbridges and circulating areas to help avoid stampedes, a source said.