Going home for Diwali-Chhath gets tough: waiting list up to 250-300 on trains via Rudrapur City, Bagh Express sleeper past 280; railways say special trains under consideration

Migrant SIDCUL workers heading home for Diwali and Chhath are unable to get confirmed tickets. According to Amar Ujala, waiting lists on all major Lalkuan and Kathgodam route trains passing through Rudrapur City station have reached 250 to 300. The sleeper waiting list on the Howrah-bound Bagh Express is above 280, while the Ranikhet Express and Sampark Kranti have more than 200. Those going to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Bengal are the worst hit. More than 50,000 migrant workers are employed at SIDCUL Pantnagar. Many workers are turning to private buses, which are charging up to three times the normal fare, and many have cancelled their leave. Safdar Hussain, public relations officer of North Eastern Railway's Izzatnagar division, said a report has been sent to headquarters, special trains are under consideration, and passengers should travel only with confirmed tickets. The Ramnagar-Patliputra Puja special will run from November 7, stopping at Kashipur, Bajpur, Lalkuan and Kichha.