As Diwali and Chhath Pooja draw closer, migrant workers in the city are turning to their native places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to celebrate the festivals with their loved ones. All trains to different states from Ludhiana Junction station are booked to full capacity as no one wants to miss a seat in the trains, according to station officials.

Trains to UP and Bihar are packed with gift-laden migrant workers returning home.

“We work here all year round. But when the time comes for the festival, we want to be with our families and celebrate with them,” said Rajat Yadav, who was heading to his hometown in eastern UP.

During the festival season, one problem passengers face is rush due to which many people who have booked fail to get seats.

“An additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been deployed to guide people and ensure that passengers can get their reserved seats comfortably. We have increased stringency to ensure passenger comfort,” said Paramdeep Singh Saini, senior business manager of the division.

“We work in crowds and if there is a crowd, RPF personnel have been tasked to ensure that people queue for smooth boarding,” he added.

Additionally, rail staff will display coach guidance fifteen minutes in advance and ensure that all signs are functioning on all platforms.

In addition to this, Firozepur division has launched two special trains for the upcoming festive season, which will pass through Dhandari Kalan station here.

From October 6, train number 04075/04076 operates twice-weekly services between New Delhi and Katra every Wednesday and Sunday. This special train will stop at Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala Cantonment, Dhandari Kalan, Jalandhar Cantonment, Pathankot Cantonment, Jammu Tawi and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan railway stations in both directions.

Train number 04623/04624 runs weekly every Sunday from October 6 to November 17 between Katra and Varanasi. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Varanasi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Weekly Special. En route, this special train will stop at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan, Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantonment, Jalandhar Cantonment, Dhandari Kalan, Ambala Cantonment, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh railway stations in the two senses.

The division has also launched another special train between Firozepur and Patna, which will pass through Bathinda. Train number 04678 will run from Firozepur Cantt to Patna every Wednesday from October 9 to November 13. En route, this special festival train will stop at Kotkapura, Bathinda, Rampura Phul, Dhuri, Patiala, Rajpura, Ambala Cantt, Yamunanagar Jagadhri, Saharanpur, Moradabad Railway Stations, Bareilly, Lucknow, Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh, Varanasi, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Buxar, Ara and Danapur in both directions.