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Travel
37,000 Bihar passengers board trains in a day amid Diwali‑Chhath rush at Surat
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 09:01 PM
👁 19
Around 37,000 people from Bihar travelled by train in a single day as the Diwali and Chhath festivals triggered a massive rush at Surat.
A massive surge of travelers from Bihar converged on Surat’s railway stations as the twin festivals of Diwali and Chhath prompted a record‑breaking rush. Indian Railways recorded that roughly 37,000 passengers boarded Bihar‑originating trains in a single day, the highest volume seen during the festive season.
The sudden influx strained platform space and required additional staff to manage crowd control, ticket verification and luggage handling. Railway officials deployed extra coaches and temporary waiting areas to accommodate the surge, while urging passengers to adhere to safety protocols.
The spike reflects the tradition of migrant workers and families returning home to celebrate Diwali and perform Chhath rituals, underscoring the critical role of rail transport in linking distant states during major festivals.
The sudden influx strained platform space and required additional staff to manage crowd control, ticket verification and luggage handling. Railway officials deployed extra coaches and temporary waiting areas to accommodate the surge, while urging passengers to adhere to safety protocols.
The spike reflects the tradition of migrant workers and families returning home to celebrate Diwali and perform Chhath rituals, underscoring the critical role of rail transport in linking distant states during major festivals.