Surat: With schools closing for summer vacation, a massive crowd of people heading to their hometowns—mainly in northern states—created a rush at Udhna railway station on Sunday. More than 17,000 passengers arrived at the station to board various trains, overwhelming railway officials. However, with effective crowd management measures, the railway authorities controlled the situation and ensured safe departures for all passengers.

This marked the highest single-day rush of the summer season. Between 4 AM and 12 noon alone, approximately 12,500 tickets were issued. The railways launched a special operation with the goal: “No passenger is left behind today.”

Key trains saw the following passenger loads:

• Train No. 09037 Udhna–Barauni: 2,500 passengers

• Train No. 22564 Udhna–Jaynagar Antyodaya Express: 4,000 passengers

• Train No. 19045 Udhna–Chhapra Express: 3,500 passengers

• Train No. 09031 Udhna–Jaynagar: 3,500 passengers

• Train No. 09067 Udhna–Jaynagar (Unreserved): 3,500 passengers

According to Western Railway’s Public Relations Department, an additional weekly unreserved train (Train No. 09067) was introduced between Udhna and Jaynagar. This significantly helped manage the rush, and despite the large crowds, no major disorder was reported.

To aid waiting passengers, NGOs provided cold drinking water and buttermilk, ensuring comfort during the wait.

Meanwhile, Train No. 12953/12954 August Kranti Tejas Rajdhani Express (Mumbai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin) will get an additional permanent AC 3-tier coach starting May 7, 2025, from Mumbai Central and May 8, 2025, from Hazrat Nizamuddin. This will allow 72 more passengers to travel daily, providing much-needed relief amid consistently long waiting lists for tickets on this high-demand route. DeshGujarat