By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: As Chhath, one of Bihar’s most cherished festivals, approaches, the influx of migrant Biharis returning to their villages continues in full swing. While some arrived home for Diwali, many awaited Chhath to reunite with family. With the festival beginning on Tuesday with the traditional Nahay Khay ritual, Patna Junction is witnessing a massive rush, with packed platforms and trains, leaving barely any room for passengers to move.
On Saturday, scenes of overcrowding at Patna Junction persisted, as platforms were thronged by passengers from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Surat. Passengers arriving on the Gorakhpur Express from Mumbai had to stand by the train doors, while the Magadh Express, arriving at platform one at 1:18 pm, was similarly overcrowded, forcing some passengers to unload luggage through the emergency windows. Even those with reserved seats faced difficulties in securing their places.
One woman recounted that despite booking a sleeper class ticket four months in advance, she could not find a seat amidst the crowd. “There was no space even to stand properly,” she shared. Another passenger, a long-time Delhi resident, described the yearly struggle to return home for Chhath amidst packed trains.
Pawan, a resident of Kajra who managed to get a last-minute Tatkal ticket from Delhi, shared a similar experience. Despite holding a confirmed seat, he found it occupied by others and was told to “find a seat elsewhere.” After a challenging journey, he finally made it back to Bihar, capturing the resilience of many Biharis returning home to celebrate Chhath with loved ones.
