Surat: Surat Railway Station here in the city has been swamped with travelers returning to their hometowns for Diwali and Chhath Puja over the past two days. The number of passengers has exceeded the station’s capacity by three to four times, resulting in chaotic conditions.

Today, the rush to board trains led to excessive pushing and disorder on the platforms. The heavy influx of passengers created a struggle to board trains, causing four individuals to faint. Despite prompt intervention by the police administering CPR, one passenger’s condition deteriorated, resulting in their unfortunate demise.

The deceased person has been identified as Ankit Birendra Singh, a young man attempting to catch a train to Bihar’s Bhagalpur via Tapti Ganga Express. Ankit used to work in Diamond Factory here. Two other individuals, including a woman, were taken to the hospital after fainting amidst the chaotic rush of passengers. Ramprakash Singh, the deceased’s brother, is among those currently under medical care.

Following the incident, both the railway system and the police department responded promptly. A substantial number of police personnel rushed to the railway station, managing the crowd. Presently, the situation at the station has been brought under control, with normal foot traffic returning.

सूरत में पुरे भारत से लोग रहते है। त्यौहार के समय पर सभी लोग अपने गृहनगर जाते है, इसमें ज्यादातर रेल परिवहन का इस्तेमाल करते है।

आज ज्यादा भीड़ के चलते कुछ यात्रिओं कों घुटन की शिकायत हुई, रेल प्रशासन ने सतकर्ता रखते हुए सभी कों मेडिकल ट्रीटमेंट मुहया कराया है। सभी यात्रिओं से… pic.twitter.com/5W2QqFTu36

— Darshana Jardosh (@DarshanaJardosh) November 11, 2023

In response to the incident, Union Minister of State for Railways, Darshana Jardosh, visited SMIMER Hospital. There, she met with the deceased person’s brother and the injured woman, gathering firsthand information about the incident. The minister and railway administration have been actively engaged, with Jardosh announcing proper compensation for the deceased person’s family. She also mentioned that the railway is considering a decision to restrict entry to the railway platform for those without a reserved ticket.

Railway Police DySP D.H. Gaur revealed that over 75 policemen were on duty to handle such situations. The chaos stemmed from an excessive number of people attempting to board the AC coaches, particularly due to the Diwali festivities that draw in three to four thousand people during the late night and early morning hours.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Harsh Sanghvi, emphasized the efforts of the police in controlling the crowd at Surat and Udhana stations. He mentioned his impending visit to Surat to manage the overcrowding situation and ensure compliance with prescribed passenger limits. DeshGujarat

🗃️ This story is from our archives and may contain outdated information.