Passengers are struggling to get a toehold in Bihar-bound trains and buses because of the Chhath rush.
For the last two days, Tatanagar railway station and the Sitaramdera bus terminus are witnessing a whopping rise in the number of passengers heading for their native places in Bihar to celebrate Chhath on November 13 and 14.
No confirmed tickets are available for Bihar-bound trains, Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express and Puri-New Delhi Neelanchal Express that travel via Tatanagar.
The waiting list of Tata-Patna South Bihar Express, one of the most popular trains for Bihar, has crossed the 250-mark on Sunday and Monday.
Around 200 passengers figure on the waiting list for Tata-Danapur Express.
All return trains from Bihar also have long waiting lists between November 16 and 19.
Chief reservation supervisor at Tatanagar station C.S. Rao said, “The rush of passengers is huge. We are helpless. Many are being forced to travel in general coaches.”
This year, no Chhath special trains were introduced from Tatanagar. However, on Saturday evening, South Eastern Railway decided to run a special train between Santragachi and Barauni.
The train, which left Santragachi at 3.30pm on Sunday, will reach Barauni at 9.30am on Monday.
The train comprises three AC two-tier and eight AC three-tier coaches. It has stoppages at Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Purulia, Chittaranjan, Madhupur, Jasidih Jhajha, Jamui and Kiul.
Narrating the plight of passengers on cramped trains, a source at Tatanagar station said, “Some are even forced to sit near the toilets.”
Bihar-bound long-distance buses that leave from Sitaramdera are also witnessing a huge demand for tickets.
Upendra Sharma, a senior functionary of Jamshedpur Bus Owners Association, said, “Many had opted for advance bookings to avoid last-minute hassles.”
Extra bogies
One AC coach each was attached to Hatia—Gorpakhpur Maurya Express and Hatia-Howard Express on Sunday to tackle the rush.
A Chhath special train left for Patna around 2am. “Ranchi-Patna Chhath special was scheduled to leave Ranchi at 11.55pm on Saturday, but it was delayed by two hours,” senior PRO of Ranchi rail division Suhas Lohkare said.
