Patna, March 8 (IANS) All the trains running from Bihar were on Sunday packed with thousands of migrant workers returning to their places of work across the country two days after Holi.
"After Holi, most of the railway stations in state were witnessing a heavy rush of passengers on Sunday. There is virtually no place available in long distance trains since Saturday till the second week of March as mostly migrant workers are returning to their work places outside the state," a railway official here said.
East Central Railway's (ECR) chief public relations officer A.K. Razak said it was a big challenge for them as there was a heavy rush in all trains -- especially on long route trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Surat and Chandigarh from Bihar and Jharkhand.
Admitting that the trains were overcrowded, Razak said: "It is a fact that railway stations are witnessing a huge rush of passengers, mostly migrant workers, who are returning to join work after Holi."
Manish Kumar, who works in a private factory at Surat in Gujarat, said it was difficult to get reservation in any train due to the heavy rush.
"I had to join duty on March 9, but I was forced to inform my office that I will not be able to make it," said Kumar, who was standing in a long queue at Patna railway station.
Kumar is one of the thousands of migrant workers who have been waiting at various railway stations across the state to board long distance trains.
"We have no option but to travel in unreserved bogie. We will board an express train to Ludhiana in the night," said Sanjay Yadav, who works in a garment factory in Ludhiana.
Yadav, who never misses an opportunity to visit his village to celebrate the festival of colours with his family, said: "We have been sitting here since early Sunday morning... all coaches of the long distance trains are packed. But it is not new, the rush in the trains is normal after Holi," he said.
Mukesh Prasad Singh, who works in Andhra Pradesh, said: "There is no place available in any long distance train."
Meanwhile, the railway authorities are running special trains to meet the rush. "We are also attaching extra coaches in long distance trains," Razak said.
According to an estimate, over 50 lakh workers from the state are employed across the country, particularly in big cities, and at least half of them visit home during Holi, a colourful festival known for its earthy flavour with Bhojpuri songs and traditional dishes.
Crowded platforms, long queues at the railway ticket counters and over-crowded trains were a common sight across the state.
In a meeting with Water Minister Atishi and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj regarding
These are the plans of Jio Airtel and Vi with a validity of 56 days, know which one is fit for you
Jio Airtel Vi Prepaid Plan: If you use a smartphone, then obviously you must be using data too, y
Rs.2,149 Internet-Ready Phone from Microsoft
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Microsoft launched its most affordable internet ready phone - Nokia
Restrictions will increase in Gujarat after Delhi, Mumbai? HC ordered to impose weekend curfew
Corona infection continues to increase in the country. Because of the increasing cases, the gover
Facing India in semis a tough challenge, says Clarke
Adelaide, March 20 (IANS) After overpowering Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the cricket Worl
Tripura: 'Can you recognize your CM?', President Murmu talks to tea garden workers
President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday inaugurated the National Law University (NLU) at Narsinghga
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Yamada Kenji, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of
Kalabazari: Police asked for six and a half lakhs for two injections of Remdesivir
While people are making every effort to save the lives of their families in the Corona epidemic,
Clarke bows out of ODIs with a legacy
Melbourne, March 29 (IANS) A responsible match-winning knock of 74 runs off 72 balls in the Wor
Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has broken his silence for the first time in four days of Income Tax ra
