Fact Check: Do IRCTC train bookings start from April 15, 2020?

Since time coronavirus pandemic has gripped nation in its talons, a lot of governmental work, companies, and or industries have come to a halt. Ministry of Railways had also decided to cancel all trains running during lockdown period, which is March 25 to April 14. re have been certain murmurs around social media that Railways will resume bookings on April 15, which have put people at unrest for a clarification of wher it is truth or false.

ALSO READ | Fact Check: Is China Experiencing A Second Wave Of Coronavirus Infection Already?

Claim:

re have been many reports flying across online world which claim that booking services of IRCTC will resume on April 15. It is day after lockdown ends. se claims are made by media reports and even on social media. 

ALSO READ | Fact Check: Has Medical Council Of India Recruited MBBS Students To Fight Coronavirus?

Rating: False

Ministry of Railways tweeted that reports claiming that bookings resume on April 15 are incorrect. tweet n clarifies that online bookings of trains that run after April 15, 2020 were never closed in first place. Here is tweet by Ministry of Railways:

ALSO READ | Fact Check: Has CBSE Decided To Resume Standard 10 And 12 Exams From April 22?

Online bookings for trains running after April 15 are open: 

Origin:

Confusion between booking of trains and wher  trains are working or t seems to have created a mixture of real and fake news. Ministry of Railways had anunced that trains running during lockdown period, i.e. March 25 to April 14, will be cancelled. bookings for se trains are in process of cancellations and passengers are also been given a full refund.

It is very important to te that bookings of a train open 120 days prior to its running day. This means that bookings for trains in between lockdown period were done approximately in month of December. se bookings were cancelled after lockdown was anunced by PM Narendra Modi.

While window bookings for trains after April 15 are closed, one can get ir reservations done online on official IRCTC website. se services are even during period of lockdown for dates beyond April 15. This means that one does t have to wait until April 15 to book tickets and can do an online train booking. only condition is that date of booking must be under 120 days. y can also look for train status and train news on website as well. 

ALSO READ | Fact Check: Did Delhi AIIMS Doctor Share A List Of Symptoms For Coronavirus?

Google Trends Analytics

Google Trends shows number of searches done by people regarding this news and reports. searches reached a peak on April 2, at 6.30 pm in evening. Though it sloped down later, re was yet ar jump in searches at 10.30 AM on April 3.

ALSO READ | Fact Check: Does Coronavirus Study In France Prove Chloroquine To Be Vaccine?