As the auspicious festival of Chhath Mahaparv approaches, a massive surge of migrant workers and families is witnessing a steady build-up at railway stations to return to their native towns and villages. The four-day festival is set to commence on November 13 with Nahay-Khay. Consequently, numerous residents living and working in Faridabad hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are packing their bags to celebrate the festivities surrounded by their loved ones. While some are heading towards Chhapra in Bihar, others are preparing to reach various districts across Uttar Pradesh. However, the journey back home is turning out to be far from smooth. Due to the complete unavailability of confirmed railway tickets, passengers are facing severe hardships and distress. Many individuals attempted to secure reservations as early as two months in advance, yet they returned empty-handed. Left with no other viable alternative, people are now preparing to undertake long journeys using general unreserved tickets. Stranded passengers at the Ballabgarh railway station in Faridabad opened up about their ordeal during interactions.
The Compulsion of Traveling with General Tickets
A passenger named Mausam Kumari stated that she needs to travel to her native village for Chhath Puja, but despite putting in extensive efforts, she failed to secure a confirmed ticket. Now, she is compelled to travel by purchasing a general ticket. Members of her family are accompanying her on this trip. Traveling back home during the festival is imperative, which is why she is ready to endure all hardships to complete the journey.
Sangeeta Devi and Sanjay Yadav Share Their Plight
Sangeeta Devi shared that she is traveling along with the same group and her ticket has not been confirmed either. She noted that all of them are under immense stress and distress. Despite attempting to book tickets multiple times, no confirmation was received, leaving them with no choice but to board with general tickets and celebrate Chhath in their village. Meanwhile, Sanjay Yadav, a resident of Chhapra who has been living in Faridabad for the past 20 years, explained that he intends to travel to his village with his entire family for the festival, yet a confirmed ticket remains elusive. He pointed out that this exact problem repeats itself every single year during the festive season. Railway stations remain heavily overcrowded, and during the previous year, he had to wait in long queues on the platform just to board a train. Maneuvering through the crowds while entering and exiting coaches becomes extremely difficult, making family travel even more hazardous.
Parvati and Lakshmi Kumari on Booking Struggles
Another passenger, Parvati, mentioned that she is also heading to Chhapra. Although the railways operate several special trains during this period, she could not secure a confirmed seat on any of them. She visited the station again to procure tickets, but the underlying crisis persists. Since celebrating Chhath Puja in her native village is non-negotiable, she is trying every possible way to reach home. Similarly, Lakshmi Kumari, a resident of Ballabgarh for the past five years, noted that she travels home every year for Chhath and has made preparations for the trip this time as well. Securing tickets during peak festival periods becomes an uphill battle.
Priyanka and Gullu Detail Their Hardships
Priyanka shared that she is traveling home with her family to observe Chhath, but despite checking for ticket availability well in advance, confirmed berths remain unavailable. Having tried for about a month, the ordeal continues unabated. Even though special trains are deployed by the railways during holidays, tickets are rarely accessible. Traveling during Holi and Chhath is mandatory for families, but ticket shortages cause immense inconvenience. Additionally, Gullu, who has spent around 15 years in Faridabad working in casting work, mentioned that ticket acquisition has become a major roadblock for his homecoming. Although booking should ideally begin two months prior, he missed that window, and tickets are now stuck on the waiting list. Despite special trains being launched, confirmed seats are out of reach, leaving him determined to reach home by any means necessary. All these stranded individuals are currently boarding local trains from Ballabgarh towards New Delhi, holding on to a faint hope of securing onward seats.
