The surge of migrant workers returning home for the Diwali and Chhath festivals has overwhelmed Surat's Udhna railway station. Long lines of passengers stretch from the station to the streets outside and nearby residential areas. The common cry everywhere is, 'Brother, we want to go home, there's no space on the train…'
Long Lines of Passengers at Surat Railway Station
Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand have been camped at the station since Friday night. The crowd is so large that queues extend outside the station premises. Elderly, women, young children, and youth stand under the sun and without regard to hunger or thirst, hoping to catch a train.
Reports indicate many have been in line for 12 to 18 hours without food and water. Outside the station, there's barely space to stand. Many are sitting on the platform floor while some seek shade near local homes and shops.
The railway administration claims additional trains have been arranged, yet the ground reality seems different. Passengers with tickets are still unable to board trains. People waiting for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-bound trains have been in lines since the night but have not yet managed to board one.
Standing in Line for 12 Hours
A person waiting in line at Surat railway station shared that he needs to get to Bihar and has been in line since ten at night, yet even after 12 hours, his turn hasn't come. All you see are queues of passengers on the streets.
Another person waiting at Surat for the Prayagraj train mentioned standing in line since seven in the evening to return home, but his turn hasn't come yet. Similar scenes are emerging from Mumbai and Delhi, where passengers pack stations, with trains also jam-packed inside.
