Over 3,000 migrants throng Mumbai’s Bandra for Shramik Special
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, May 19
More than 3,000 migrants gathered at Mumbai’s Bandra terminus after rumours of Shramik Special trains leaving for Bihar spread on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the railway officials, the crowds began arriving at the railway station from 9 am and by noon, several thousand people had gathered at the train station.
“There were rumours that special trains have been organised for Bihar and thousands of people showed up,” a Western Railway official said.
However, only 1,700 passengers with confirmed reservations were allowed to enter the railway station and allowed to board the train.
The Shramik Special for Purnia in Bihar left at noon, according to Ravindra Bhakar, spokesman, Western Railway.
Police officials said the remaining people were asked to leave the premises.
“We had to use mild force to disperse the people,” a railway police official said. No untoward incident was reported and the people dispersed peacefully, the police added.
The scene at Bandra station was chaotic as the most migrants were not wearing masks, disregarded social-distancing norms and jostled to enter the station premises.
Police officials from Bandra police station said the crowds gathered after rumours were spread on social media that trains were leaving for Bihar.
“We are trying to figure out the sources of the rumours. Travel without reservation is not allowed and anyone spreading rumours will be punished,” the duty officer at Bandra police station said.
Last month, huge crowds gathered at Bandra railway station after rumours of a special train to North India was spread on social media.
