Nagpur station packed with Chhath travellers to Bihar and UP; RPF adds staff and extends duty hours

Nagpur railway station is heavily crowded with passengers these days because of the Chhath festival. Announcements of train arrivals and departures are continuous on the platforms, and Chhathi Maiya songs are playing over the loudspeakers between them. Amid the eagerness to return home, this is the mood at the station.

Movement of passengers on trains passing through Nagpur towards Patna, Danapur, Gaya, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Prayagraj is higher than ever. None of these trains originates at Nagpur. All of them are running full from their originating stations.

Among the main trains towards Patna and Danapur are the 22354 Bengaluru-Patna Humsafar, 17610 Purna-Patna Express, 22669 Ernakulam-Patna Superfast, 12578 Bagmati Express, 22366 Bengaluru-Danapur Superfast and 12295 Sanghamitra Express. For Gaya, the 22357 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Gaya Superfast and the 11045 Deekshabhoomi Express are important. Trains to Gorakhpur and Lucknow are also running for those heading to Uttar Pradesh, including the 16093 Chennai-Lucknow Express, 12539 Yesvantpur-Lucknow Express and 22613 Shraddha Setu Superfast.

Almost all trains heading to Bihar and north India leave from Platform No. 1. In the three days after Diwali and before Chhath begins, this platform sees a heavy crush. This time is no different.

To prevent any untoward incident, the Railway Protection Force has stepped up surveillance. Manoj Kumar, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner of the Nagpur division of Central Railway, said 16 to 20 more RPF personnel have been deployed at the station, in addition to the Nagpur post. Everyone's duty has been extended from 8 hours to 12 hours each. Special attention is being paid to situations such as passengers falling from moving trains.

When popular Chhath songs such as "Kanch Hi Baans Ke Bahangiya", "Bahangi Lachkat Jaye", "Ugo He Suraj Dev" and "Kelwa Ke Paat Par Ugelan Suraj Mal" play on the station's announcement system, passengers' faces light up. For migrant families living in Maharashtra and other states, far from Bihar, the songs are becoming a way to connect with their homes, villages and traditions.

For many passengers, the songs bring back memories of Chhath preparations and the ghats. Among the elderly, women and children sitting with their families waiting for trains, the songs create a distinct atmosphere. Amid the constant announcements, the music is easing passengers' fatigue and restlessness somewhat. Essential train announcements are not interrupted while the songs play.

The railway's initiative cannot reduce the crowd, but it is certainly making passengers' wait more pleasant. When a migrant sitting hundreds of kilometres from home hears Chhathi Maiya songs, they feel for a few moments that their village and home are right there at the station.