The IRCTC website and mobile app went down on Saturday, leaving lakhs of travellers unable to book or check train tickets just days before Deepavali, one of India’s busiest travel seasons. Many users reported being stuck on the payment or login pages for several hours, with error messages such as “Service unavailable” and “Gateway timeout” appearing repeatedly.
Travellers Express Frustration Online
The disruption triggered a wave of complaints on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms. Hashtags like #IRCTCDown and #TrainBookingFail began trending, with users sharing screenshots of failed transactions and long waiting times. Some travellers said they were unable to secure tickets even after multiple attempts, causing panic among those planning to travel home for the festival.
IRCTC Issues Statement, Cites Technical Glitch
In an official post, IRCTC acknowledged the issue, stating that “technical teams are working to restore services at the earliest.” The corporation assured users that ticket data and payment details remain secure. While the exact cause has not been confirmed, insiders suggest the outage may be linked to server overload due to massive booking traffic ahead of the festive weekend.
Festive Rush Puts Rail Networks Under Pressure
The Indian Railways typically witnesses a massive surge in ticket demand during Deepavali, as millions of passengers travel to their hometowns. To accommodate the rush, special trains are usually deployed across major routes. However, this year’s online booking failure has added stress to an already strained system, leaving passengers anxious about travel options.
Technical Experts Call for Infrastructure Upgrade
Technology experts have pointed out that IRCTC’s digital infrastructure needs a significant upgrade to handle surging user traffic during peak seasons. Despite being one of the most visited e-commerce sites in Asia, IRCTC has faced several similar disruptions over the years. Experts recommend cloud-based scaling and AI-driven load balancing to prevent recurring breakdowns.
Services Expected to Resume Soon
As of Saturday evening, IRCTC engineers were reportedly working on restoring full functionality. Officials have urged users to avoid repeated login attempts until the issue is resolved. Passengers are advised to use authorized travel agents or offline booking counters as temporary alternatives.