A massive rush of migrant workers at Udhna Railway station in Surat led to chaotic scenes on Sunday. Thousands tried to board trains to UP and Bihar with the start of summer vacation and wedding season.
Ticket lines were seen stretching out of the station and spilled onto nearby roads. As the day progressed, the situation worsened. Due to intense heat and overcrowding, at least two passengers fainted. Many complained about shortage of drinking water and lack of basic facilities.
Videos showed passengers climbing barricades and rushing towards platforms, while general coaches were packed beyond capacity. Some visuals showed people jumping over railings to enter the station.
"By noon, more than 21,000 passengers had departed on six trains. Despite repeated announcements, managing the crowd was difficult," said railway official Anubhav Saxena, and finally police had to intervene to control the crowd. Passengers who could not board trains also complained about refund issues.