According to Downdetector, the issue peaked at around 10:58 am, with approximately 5,900 users facing problems while trying to book tickets.
The official website and app of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), a public sector enterprise of the Indian government that manages ticketing, went down ahead of the Diwali and Chhath puja rush.
According to reports, both the IRCTC website and its mobile app were not working for a considerable time, leaving many users unable to book train tickets online.
According to Downdetector, the issue peaked at around 10:58 am, with approximately 5,900 users facing problems while trying to book tickets.ย Reports suggest that technical issues caused the outage.
“Booking and Cancellation for All site will note be available for next hour. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the website said.
IRCTC introduces local vegetarian cuisineย
Earlier, IRCTC started serving local vegetarian cuisine on the recently launched Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express.
The menu includes famous Kashmiri ‘Kahwa’, fresh bakery items, dishes like Kashmiri Pulao, Rajma, Babroo, Ambal Kaddu and fresh apples.
The official said Indian Railways and IRCTC will prepare and serve the traditional local cuisine to passengers during breakfast and lunch on the Vande Bharat train, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, marking the completion of the much-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The initiative received an encouraging response, with most people travelling between Katra and Srinagar opting for the local menu and praising the quality and taste of the food.
“The facility is aimed at providing an authentic and memorable travel experience to passengers in Kashmir, giving them the perfect opportunity to enjoy the flavours on the spot, even before their destination station,” IRCTC chairman Harjot Singh Sandhu said.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal said this model would have state-of-the-art hygienic kitchens.
This initiative reflects a comprehensive effort by Indian Railways to celebrate the culinary diversity of the country and provide passengers with a rich travel experience connected to the local culture, Singhal said.
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