Ambala, November 12 (R. Singh):-The rush of passengers returning to their homes for the Chhath festival has created chaotic conditions at the railway station and inside trains. The situation is particularly serious on major trains heading towards Bihar and Purvanchal, including the Jansewa and Amrapali Express. As soon as a train arrives at the platform, passengers jostle with one another to board the coaches. Due to extremely limited space in general coaches, hundreds of passengers are risking their lives by hanging on to the doors. The pressure of the crowd has become so intense that unreserved passengers are forcibly entering reserved and sleeper coaches, as well as AC coaches, causing considerable inconvenience and insecurity for passengers holding confirmed tickets. Despite the Railways' claims of having made enhanced arrangements, measures to control the crowds are proving inadequate.
Passengers who had booked confirmed tickets months in advance in the hope of reaching home for the festival were unable to reach their reserved seats because of the uncontrolled rush. Such passengers, travelling with their families and children, made strenuous efforts to board the trains, but those holding general tickets did not allow them to enter the coaches. Disappointed, these passengers reached the Ambala Cantt bus stand and, abandoning their hopes of travelling by train, boarded buses bound for Bihar after paying double the fare.
