Surat: Some chaotic scenes erupted at Udhna Railway Station this afternoon as thousands of migrant workers gathered here to travel to their native places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, amid a seasonal surge triggered by summer vacations, factory holidays, and the ongoing wedding season, including Akshaya Tritiya.

Passengers reported waiting in queues for 14 to 16 hours, with several stranded at the station for 24 to 48 hours in a desperate attempt to board trains. Lines for the Antyodaya Express stretched up to 2 kilometres, spilling out onto nearby roads.

The situation worsened under intense heat this afternoon, with temperatures nearing 40°C. At least two passengers reportedly fainted due to heat and overcrowding. While a shed with a capacity of around 1,500 people, thousands were forced to wait in the open. Some drinking water shortages were also reported, with passengers struggling even for basic access to water.

Visuals from the station showed severe overcrowding, with passengers jumping over barricades and grills to reach platforms. General coaches were packed beyond capacity, with people occupying aisles and spaces near toilets.

Conflicting claims also emerged regarding crowd control measures. While some reports alleged a baton charge by police, officials denied using force, stating that personnel were only guiding passengers to manage the crowd.

In an official statement, Western Railway said that over 21,000 passengers departed from Udhna on scheduled and special trains during the day. Key services included the Udhna–Jaynagar Special, Udhna–Madhubani Special, Udhna–Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express, Udhna–Jaynagar Antyodaya Express, Tapti Ganga Express, and Udhna–Hasanpur Road Special.

Contrary to such claims, multiple trains have departed as scheduled from Udhna for Northern states today, including:

* Train No. 09061: Udhna – Jaynagar Special
* Train No. 09067: Udhna – Madhubani Special
* Train No. 19021: Udhna – Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express
* Train No.… pic.twitter.com/IkjYyxflhd

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) April 19, 2026

However, many passengers who had purchased tickets but could not board trains due to the overwhelming rush alleged that their requests for refunds were denied.

Railway PRO Anubhav Saxena acknowledged the unprecedented rush, stating that additional trains had been requested. Addressing concerns over inadequate lighting in queue areas, he said lighting was not deemed necessary as the queues were expected to function during daytime hours.

Eyewitness accounts highlighted the human distress behind the chaos. In one instance, a passenger carrying his late wife’s ashes to Prayagraj struggled to board a train before being assisted by railway police. Several migrant workers expressed deep frustration, with some even stating they may not return to Surat due to the hardships faced.

The situation, which recurs annually during peak travel seasons, once again exposed the strain on railway infrastructure and crowd management systems, as thousands of workers attempted to return home simultaneously. DeshGujarat

Including Train Nos. 09061, 09067, 19021, 22564, 19045, and 09031, among others.

More than 21000 passengers have been sent to their destinations today from Udhna through these trains.
One more special train will depart from Udhna at 21:40 hrs today for Jayanagar pic.twitter.com/nv3CHsIuPz

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) April 19, 2026