Thousands of migrant workers and daily-wage laborers gathered at Surat and Udhna railway stations in Gujarat, hoping to travel back home to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This surge in travel was triggered by various factors, including the upcoming general elections, wedding season, crop harvesting season, and a new payment rule for...
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MSMEs, requiring companies to settle dues within 45 days. Western Railway (WR) authorities were unprepared for the influx and had to operate additional special trains to handle the crowd. The number of special trains from Udhna and Surat to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was increased from two per day to four. WR also deployed extra staff and security personnel to manage the crowds and ensure smooth travel for regular passengers. The new payment rule for MSMEs forced manufacturers to lay off workers temporarily to meet financial obligations, contributing significantly to the exodus. Other factors like weddings and crop harvesting also played a role in the seasonal migration.