A portion of a tin shed at Platform No. 5 of Lucknow's Charbagh Railway Station collapsed on Friday, 29 May, injuring at least three people, including passengers and a train ticket examiner (TTE). The incident occurred around 8 am while redevelopment and modernisation work was underway at the station under the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).

How the Collapse Unfolded

The tin shed covering Platforms 4 and 5 gave way suddenly, sending debris crashing onto the platform area and triggering panic among passengers waiting for trains. Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel rushed to the spot immediately, rescued those trapped under the debris, and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment. Movement on the affected platform was temporarily suspended following the incident.

Passenger Abhishek Balmiki, who was at the station at the time, described the terrifying moment. 'I was going to Haridwar with five friends for a trip. We were standing at Platform 5 of Charbagh Railway Station waiting for our train because it was delayed. Suddenly, the tin shed fell on us,' he said.

What Officials Said

According to railway officials, the collapsed shed had already been marked for removal as part of the ongoing redevelopment work at the station. Despite this, Platform 5 remained operational for passenger movement, while the adjacent Platform 4 had been closed due to modernisation activities. Officials confirmed that the injured passengers were among those waiting for the Howrah-Doon Express (13037) when the incident took place. Debris clearance work began shortly after.

A Second Infrastructure Incident in UP Within 24 Hours

The Charbagh collapse comes just hours after a separate and deadlier infrastructure failure in the state. On Thursday, at least six workers were killed — with the death toll feared to rise to eight — after an under-construction bridge collapsed during a late-night storm in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district, near the Betwa River.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed officials to intensify relief and rescue operations at the Hamirpur site. Posting on X, the Chief Minister said, 'The loss of lives in a tragic accident on the Betwa River in Hamirpur district is extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending. My condolences are with the bereaved families. Instructions have been issued to the district administration to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations in coordination with SDRF. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftly.'

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Yogi took immediate cognisance of the Hamirpur incident and directed senior officials to reach the site without delay. He also instructed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and adequate compensation for the families of the deceased.

Safety Questions Over Active Construction Zones

The Charbagh incident raises pointed questions about passenger safety in active construction corridors. The shed was already flagged for removal yet the platform beneath it continued to handle passenger traffic — a gap between demolition scheduling and operational safety that railway authorities will now need to address. Work to clear the collapsed structure was underway as of Friday morning, and the platform is expected to reopen once the area is declared safe.