The great homecoming has begun — and it’s utter chaos on the tracks! With Diwali, Chhath Puja, and assembly elections just around the corner, the Indian Railways is bracing for an avalanche of nearly 20 lakh passengers heading to Bihar from October 25.
From Delhi to Mumbai, Bengaluru to Chennai, every train bound for Bihar is packed to capacity. Tickets? Almost impossible to find. Even the so-called “special trains” are running jam-packed — tighter than a festival bazaar.
At Surat railway station, queues snaked up to 1.5 km, prompting authorities to step in. Railway, RPF, and police personnel are working round the clock to control the rush.
According to the Western Railway, around 75 pairs of special trains have been introduced for the festive season, making over 2,400 trips to ferry passengers. On Saturday alone, over 22,800 passengers departed from Surat and Udhna, with another 20,000 boarding by Sunday afternoon, the release stated.
To handle the crowd, authorities have created holding areas on both sides of Surat and Udhna stations, added 11 extra ticket windows, and deployed 38 shifts of staff with mobile UTS ticketing. Senior officers have been posted for continuous monitoring, ensuring crowd control and safety.
Meanwhile, viral videos show massive crowds at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, with passengers spilling onto platforms. The Central Railway announced it will operate 1,702 special trains for Diwali and Chhath, aiming to help people reach home in time for celebrations.
A Times of India report said Prayagraj’s stations and bus terminals were overwhelmed with passengers. “Trains were packed beyond capacity, people sat in aisles, and platforms were overflowing with travellers,” the report noted. Since Friday, major trains arriving from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Howrah have been running at full occupancy.
To manage the surge, officials deployed over 44 festival special trains, making 650 trips across two months under the Prayagraj, Agra, and Jhansi divisions. Routes such as Veerangana Laxmibai–Lalitpur, Agra Cantt–Ahmedabad, and Govindpuri–Aligarh will operate through November and December.
Special services like the CSMT–Banaras Special and Ahmedabad–Sheikhpura Express will also halt at Chheoki station, catering to commuters heading towards Mumbai and Gujarat.
Even road transport is feeling the heat. Prayagraj’s bus terminals saw an unprecedented rush over the weekend. Buses bound for Varanasi, Azamgarh, and Gorakhpur were packed to the brim, with 120 buses already pressed into service and more expected as Chhath nears.
Reports of massive crowds have also emerged from Jhansi and Kanpur, underscoring the scale of India’s festive migration — a once-a-year homecoming now turning into a travel storm of devotion, duty, and democracy.
From Delhi to Mumbai, Bengaluru to Chennai, every train bound for Bihar is packed to capacity. Tickets? Almost impossible to find. Even the so-called “special trains” are running jam-packed — tighter than a festival bazaar.
At Surat railway station, queues snaked up to 1.5 km, prompting authorities to step in. Railway, RPF, and police personnel are working round the clock to control the rush.
According to the Western Railway, around 75 pairs of special trains have been introduced for the festive season, making over 2,400 trips to ferry passengers. On Saturday alone, over 22,800 passengers departed from Surat and Udhna, with another 20,000 boarding by Sunday afternoon, the release stated.
To handle the crowd, authorities have created holding areas on both sides of Surat and Udhna stations, added 11 extra ticket windows, and deployed 38 shifts of staff with mobile UTS ticketing. Senior officers have been posted for continuous monitoring, ensuring crowd control and safety.
Meanwhile, viral videos show massive crowds at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, with passengers spilling onto platforms. The Central Railway announced it will operate 1,702 special trains for Diwali and Chhath, aiming to help people reach home in time for celebrations.
A Times of India report said Prayagraj’s stations and bus terminals were overwhelmed with passengers. “Trains were packed beyond capacity, people sat in aisles, and platforms were overflowing with travellers,” the report noted. Since Friday, major trains arriving from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Howrah have been running at full occupancy.
To manage the surge, officials deployed over 44 festival special trains, making 650 trips across two months under the Prayagraj, Agra, and Jhansi divisions. Routes such as Veerangana Laxmibai–Lalitpur, Agra Cantt–Ahmedabad, and Govindpuri–Aligarh will operate through November and December.
Special services like the CSMT–Banaras Special and Ahmedabad–Sheikhpura Express will also halt at Chheoki station, catering to commuters heading towards Mumbai and Gujarat.
Even road transport is feeling the heat. Prayagraj’s bus terminals saw an unprecedented rush over the weekend. Buses bound for Varanasi, Azamgarh, and Gorakhpur were packed to the brim, with 120 buses already pressed into service and more expected as Chhath nears.
Reports of massive crowds have also emerged from Jhansi and Kanpur, underscoring the scale of India’s festive migration — a once-a-year homecoming now turning into a travel storm of devotion, duty, and democracy.
You may also like
Trump tosses aside Ukraine map in rage as he tells Zelensky Putin will 'destroy Ukraine'
'State-sanctioned murder': Indian-origin Congress candidate on 'US killing Colombian fisherman'
UK households told to put orange peels in kitchen sinks
J-K: Indian Army celebrates Diwali along LoC in Akhnoor
Liquor 'scam': HC rejects plea of Baghel's son against arrest
