Around 1,200 stranded passengers, including migrant workers, who came to Ranchi from Delhi on Rajdhani Express on Thursday morning were happy to reach Ranchi station but their joy evaporated very soon.

They expected they would be welcomed by officials with flowers, water and food, and taken home on buses, mirroring the government’s standard protocol when labourers reach home on special Shramik trains.

Instead, the Rajdhani passengers were greeted by buses and cabs who quoted “exorbitant rates”.

“This is like falling from the sky. We underwent thermal screening after we alighted from the train at the station. Then authorities asked us our districts we belong to. In Delhi too we received a phone call seeking details of our addresses. So we expected minimal arrangements such as a free bus service, but outside the station there was nothing,” said Md Nasim Ansari of Pakur district, a labourer in Delhi, who returned with two of his friends.

One of his friends, Shamshul Ansari, said that for each ticket they spent Rs 1,786.

“Then, we saw buses on the parking area and travel company employees booking tickets. We thought that it was free of cost. But when we contacted the booking counter of Farhan Travels in the parking area, the agent said they charged Rs 14 per km. Now Pakur is about 360km from Ranchi. That means I will have to pay minimum Rs 5,000. We friends have only Rs 3,000 between us. How we will go home?” Ansari said.

Passengers show the home quarantine (HQ) mark on their hands.

Md Irfan of Chatra said that they were cheated everywhere. “In Delhi we got no support from the Delhi government and back in Jharkhand the situation is the same,” he said. “In Delhi, we lost our jobs, did not get food. Contractors threw us out and denied us wages. How will I go to Chatra now? Now it seems the only thing we can depend on is our own two feet.” He added they were not allowed to alight at Ramgarh, which was closer to Chatra than Ranchi.

Rupesh Paswan and Rohit Paswan from Giridih were seen standing outside Ranchi station. “This virus has broken us. We got fired, now we are back in our home state, empty-handed,” Rupesh said.

Bhavana, a native of Jamshedpur, lamented that she lost her job and exhausted her savings. “Private cabs are demanding anything between Rs 14 to Rs 20 per km and not only that, they will charge to-and-fro rates. Politicians will only shed crocodile tears,” she said.

Amarjeet and Chandraprit Kaur from Jamshedpur alleged complete chaos and mismanagement inside the train.

“The toilet was dirty. Attendants did not respond and there was no sanitiser,” said Amarjeet. “Hellish ride.”

Ranchi deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray denied any mismanagement at Ranchi station.

“From the start, we made it clear that the state government will not arrange buses for passengers coming by the Rajdhani Express. They have to pay for their onward journey. Around 60 buses and 50 cabs were given permission to take these passengers to their districts for pay,” said the DC.

It is also unclear if these passengers will undergo the Covid-19 test.