The lockdown period has been the most trying time for migrant workers. Unemployed, money-less, and homeless, these people have been trying to go back to their hometowns for weeks. While buses were arranged for some, ‘Shramik’ trains were arranged for others, giving them a much-needed respite.
A special train was arranged for migrant labourers in Maharashtra on May 21 leaving from Vasai station which would take them to Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. However, after 23-hours, when the passengers woke up in the morning, they found the train had taken them to Odisha instead, reports News18.
The train had taken a completely different route overnight and reached Rourkela in the morning. When the “angry and confused” migrant workers asked what had happened, they were told that the train’s driver had “lost his way”.
On one hand, Indian Railway officials claimed that the detour was planned because of congestion of the tracks caused by several other trains, reports Times Now.
“We have decided to run a few of the Shramik trains on diverted routes. Some trains were diverted for Bihar via Rourkela to clear congestion,” they said.
On the other hand, the migrant workers said that they weren’t informed of the detour. They also do not know whether the train will take them to Gorakhpur from Rourkela.
A video of a Shramik train passenger talking about the incident has gone viral.
“Kaha jayenge ab? Bohot pareshani mein hain humlog,” he says.
Shramik Special from Mumbai to Gorakhpur, UP lands up in Rourkela, Odisha because the driver lost his way. Any resemblance to current government strategy is purely coincidental. Hope the exhausted passengers get home safely soon pic.twitter.com/Eg0cOqblbt
— RPN Singh (@SinghRPN) May 23, 2020
Another passenger took to Twitter to complain about how there is no water inside the train.
@PiyushGoyal Ham log kal vasai se Gorakhpur jane wali special shramik train 21st ko pakde hai 23hour ho chuka abhi tak train Maharashtra me .aise me ham log bhukhe hai yaha tak pani bhi nahi pine ke liye pani nahi hai aur ye train Bhusawal se naagpur ke rout pe kyu ja raha hai
— Arun Gupta (@Arun07078361) May 22, 2020
Here’s how people on the internet reacted:
A train carrying migrants loses its way. Other trains get stalled — this, at a time when there is no regular traffic, only relief trains.
In how many different ways can you be incompetent? https://t.co/n9vREAmhi5
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) May 23, 2020
Train loses its way, train to U.P ends up in Odisha !
Lockdown has turned every person crazy.#CoronavirusLockdown#lockdownextension
https://t.co/zNIq7iUG0e via @Latestly— Iron पुरुष (@AtmanirbharGuy9) May 23, 2020
Shramik special train set off to Gorakhpur (UP) from Vasai road (Maharashtra) on 21st May, 2020 reaches Rourkela station in Odisha today morning. Clueless passengers claims that driver has lost the route. No official word from @WesternRly. Can someone help. pic.twitter.com/CcccayFCT0
— Ritvick Bhalekar (@ritvick_ab) May 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/Mohansinha/status/1264126040911175680
Railways left red faced as Gorakhpur-bound Shramik train reaches Rourkela.
Effect of Work from Home as Driver lost his way. Jana tha gorakhpur, pahuch gaye Rourkela. Whats going On…@IRCTCofficial @RailMinIndia— Vikas Anand (@vikasvatsaanand) May 23, 2020
We hope that the passengers stuck in Odisha are taken back to their original destination. They have suffered enough!