IRCTC website below: Indian Railways’ online ticketing platform, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), had a critical outage on Thursday.
Barring passengers across the country from using the IRCTC website or mobile app, millions of passengers rely on the site to purchase or manage their train tickets.
The IRCTC website said that e-ticketing services will not be available due to maintenance work.
The outage caused inconvenience to countless customers trying to book Tatkal tickets for the holiday.
Screengrab of trends.google
According to Downdetector, there were more than 2,500 complaints about the unavailability of the online ticketing service.
Many people complained and expressed frustration about Platform Summit not being available on X (formerly Twitter).
India is the world’s biggest IT hub, but it can’t fix a website. You may collect taxes but fail to provide proper services in return. What a shame!@IRCTCofficial @RailwaySeva @RailMinIndia #IRCTC # below #Rail pic.twitter.com/AAl8ljmSr5
– Guy on the Street (@msdneville) December 26, 2024
This is the second time in December that the e-ticketing platform has experienced disruption; Here’s what you need to know about navigating outages, booking/cancelling tickets, and using helpline numbers.
How to book train tickets amid IRCTC website outage?
1. Railway Station Counters:
Visit the nearest railway reservation counter. Fill out the reservation form and purchase your tickets in person.
2. Third-Party Apps and Websites:
Use trusted third-party services integrated with the IRCTC system, allowing you to book train tickets online.
3. Call 139 (Indian Railways Inquiry):
Dial 139 for assistance from the Indian Railways Helpline. You can check train availability and book tickets through their interactive voice response system or speak to an agent.
4. Post Office:
Some post offices in India offer train ticket booking services; One can visit the nearest post office offering this option.
Pro tip:
Always carry a valid ID proof while booking tickets. For last-minute travel, explore other transportation options such as buses or flights if train tickets are sold out.
How to cancel or reschedule train tickets amid IRCTC website outage?
If you need to cancel or change your ticket due to the outage, IRCTC advises passengers to reach out to customer care or send an email.
Contact information provided by IRCTC for cancellation assistance includes customer care numbers: 14646, 08044647999and 08035734999.
email: etickets@irctc.co.in
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