Imagine a railway station that became so infamous for its spooky reputation that passengers avoided visiting it, railway employees reportedly stayed away, and even trains passing through the area became associated with frightening local stories! This is the fascinating and mysterious history of Begunkodar Railway Station, located in Purulia district of West Bengal.
Opened in 1960, the station reportedly began attracting attention for all the wrong reasons around 1967, when its station master claimed to have encountered a mysterious female figure on the premises. The situation became even more alarming among local residents following the station master’s mysterious death. Soon, stories of unexplained sightings and unusual incidents began circulating throughout nearby villages.
Fear gradually spread, with passengers reportedly avoiding the station, particularly after sunset. According to local folklore, some travellers even preferred to keep their train doors closed while passing through the area. As passenger movement declined and concerns continued, railway services at the station were eventually discontinued.
Begunkodar remained closed for nearly 42 years, becoming widely known as one of India’s most mysterious railway stations. However, its fortunes changed in 2009 when the station was reopened during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Railway Minister. Although some passengers initially remained apprehensive because of its reputation, regular railway operations gradually resumed.
Today, Begunkodar is an operational railway station, and the once-abandoned premises have returned to everyday railway activity. From years of silence and local legends to the sound of arriving and departing trains, Begunkodar’s story remains one of the most unusual chapters in India’s railway history.
