Chennai: With Diwali just three days away, several thousand migrant workers have begun leaving Chennai to celebrate the festival with their families, triggering a heavy rush at MGR Chennai Central railway station. As passengers jostle to board trains to West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and other northern states, the rush for limited unreserved compartments has created chaotic scenes, raising concerns over passenger safety.Trains such as Howrah Mail and Shalimar Express have been witnessing huge crowds, with hundreds of passengers waiting to board. Both trains have only four unreserved compartments each, forcing passengers to squeeze into the coaches, where the number of people often exceeds their carrying capacity. An unreserved LHB coach can accommodate about to 100 passengers, but more than 200 people are cramming into each compartment during the rush.Passengers occupy almost every available space inside the coaches, including the floor, doorways, steps, luggage areas and even the space near the lavatories.Santosh Kumar, who is travelling to Santragachi Junction in West Bengal, said passengers from unreserved compartments often move into sleeper coaches when the train crosses Nellore, leaving reserved passengers struggling to access their seats.Railway officials said Chennai Central station has been placed on high alert, with the premises monitored throughout the day. Additional RPF personnel will be deployed on Friday to manage the anticipated rush as more migrant workers leave the city ahead of Diwali.“There is no point in booking a sleeper-class ticket on Howrah Mail. Once the train crosses Nellore, many passengers from unreserved coaches enter the reserved compartments. Even if the TTR fines them and asks them to return to the unreserved coaches, they refuse to leave and occupy our seats. We have no choice but to travel on the same train. The Railways should take necessary action,” he said.“We have been instructed to not let anyone break the queue and enter the station. More than 200 RPF personnel are on duty in the station premises to manage crowd control. Nobody is allowed to carry crackers or lighters inside the trains. Necessary action will be taken against anyone who causes trouble,” an RPF official posted at the station said.
About The Author
