Kochi: Travellers at Ernakulam South Railway Station were faced with scenes of utter pandemonium on Tuesday evening as jubilant political supporters swarmed the platforms to welcome V.D. Satheesan. The boisterous reception, celebrating the United Democratic Alliance’s (UDF) electoral success, resulted in property damage and delays to the high-speed Vande Bharat service.

Station infrastructure damaged

The enthusiasm of the crowd turned destructive when the glass panelling of the station’s information centre was smashed. Witnesses reported that the damage occurred as supporters hoisted Satheesan onto their shoulders to carry him triumphantly from the station. It is believed that the wooden poles of the numerous flags being brandished by the activists struck the glass during the ensuing scuffle.

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Travel disruption

The Mangaluru-bound Vande Bharat Express became the unintended stage for the political rally. Arriving slightly behind schedule at 6:51 PM, the train was forced to remain stationary for nearly ten minutes beyond its departure time.

Frustrated commuters found themselves caught in a human bottleneck, with many unable to disembark or board the carriages due to the sheer volume of supporters occupying Platform No. 1. Police officers on the scene were reportedly overwhelmed, struggling to maintain a clear thoroughfare for legitimate ticket-holders who found themselves barred from even entering the station building.

The influx of supporters began nearly an hour before the train’s arrival, with the platform effectively seized by party faithful. While the UDF is celebrating what they term a "historic win," the disruption to the public has drawn sharp criticism from rail users.

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The Vande Bharat service finally managed to pull out of the station at 7:01 PM, only after the core of the demonstration had moved towards the station exits. Railway authorities are expected to assess the damage to the information centre, while several commuters were left troubled by the chaos.