IRCTC Website Fails During Festive Tatkal Rush; Thousands Miss Out on Diwali Tickets
IRCTC crashes during Tatkal bookings for Diwali and Chhath, leaving users furious.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website suffered a major outage, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers seeking Tatkal tickets for Diwali and Chhath Puja. The crash, which occurred shortly after Tatkal booking opened at 10 AM IST, was attributed to an overwhelming influx of service requests, according to a notice on the IRCTC website. The timing, just before Dhanteras, amplified the inconvenience, leaving travelers scrambling to secure seats on India’s bustling railway network during the peak festive season.
Reports from Downdetector highlighted a sharp spike in complaints, with the highest volume recorded around 10 AM, when the site became unresponsive. This is not an isolated incident; the IRCTC platform faced similar crashes three times in December 2024, exposing persistent issues with server capacity during high-demand periods. The recurring failures have fueled frustration among users, who rely on the platform for timely bookings, especially for last-minute Tatkal tickets critical for festival travel.
Social media platforms, particularly X, became a sounding board for disgruntled passengers. One user lamented, “Once again, IRCTC servers down during Tatkal booking right in the middle of the Diwali. When will IRCTC get a reliable system to handle peak traffic?” Another echoed, “IRCTC website and app are down exactly during Tatkal booking hours! This happens every time before festivals. Please improve your server capacity.” The outcry underscores a growing demand for a robust technological infrastructure to support the world’s largest passenger railway network.
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The IRCTC outage highlights systemic challenges in managing peak traffic, especially during culturally significant festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja, when millions travel to reunite with families. While the railway authorities have yet to announce specific measures to address the issue, the incident has reignited calls for urgent upgrades to the IRCTC’s digital systems. As travelers navigate the chaos, the need for a reliable, scalable platform remains critical to ensure seamless access to India’s vital rail services.
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