Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Heavy rush at bus stand, railway station

Photo: M. Govarthan

Survival of the fittest:A scene at Erode bus stand –

ERODE: The Erode bus stand and railway junction witnessed huge crowds on Monday as a large number people, after celebrating the harvest festival of Pongal at their homes, started returning to their work places.

Thousands of people from various parts of the district and neighbouring Namakkal and Tirupur districts had started pouring in at the bus stand and railway junction since morning to board the buses and trains.

Buses being operated towards all major cities including Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore were full.

People were seen waiting in serpentine queues at the parking bays to board the buses.

Seats in the long distance buses operated by the State Express Transport Corporation were already booked.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) had introduced round-the-clock special services to all major cities for the benefit of those who did not book their tickets earlier.

The special buses were operated from Erode, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Anthiyur and a few other places.

“These special buses are also running jam-packed. There is huge demand for bus services to destinations such as Chennai and Bangalore. We have began operating a few more buses to these destinations,” a TNSTC official said.

The Corporation had posted additional staff members to regulate the operation of special buses and to help people.

The trains running between Coimbatore and Chennai and Coimbatore and Bangalore sections were full.

The unreserved compartments in all the trains towards Chennai and Bangalore were jam-packed and people occupied every inch of the space available.

Planning

Persons who did not plan their trips earlier were left in the lurch.

They were seen trying to board the already crowded unreserved compartments. Long queues were also witnessed at the booking centres.

Additional police personnel were deputed at the Erode bus stand and railway junction to manage the crowd.

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