Eid Travel Rush Overwhelms Dhaka Railway Stations
As Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, approaches, Dhaka’s railway stations are left overwhelmed with crowds rushing to make it in time for the holidays.
Footage captured on Monday shows dozens of passengers climbing, sitting, and standing on top of train roofs to travel despite ticket shortages and crowded carriages.
“Travelling on the roof of a train is indeed risky, but to get home, many are willing to take dangerous routes[…]Those riding on train roofs are aware of the risks but still choose to take them to be with their loved ones,” a passenger remarked.
Despite the danger, some travellers continue to use the railway transit to avoid traffic jams.
“With buses, you often find yourself stuck in traffic, which wastes valuable time. The only issue with trains is the heat due to overcrowding; otherwise, it’s a good option,” another passenger added.
Authorities Increase Security Measures
Kamalapur railway station manager said that the nation’s railways expect to receive 65,000 to 70,000 people leaving the capital daily for the next two days of Eid.
Railway authorities have implemented three-tier security measures to ensure the safe journey of train passengers and to prevent people from travelling on the roofs.
On Sunday, a passenger was killed by lightning while riding on the roof of a train returning home.
Transport Crisis Strains Holiday Travel
The crisis extends beyond rail travel. High fares and gridlock drive commuters to extremes across all transportation sectors, resulting in dangerously overloaded river ferries and highly congested highways.
While railway authorities and law enforcement deploy additional personnel to deter passengers from climbing atop trains, the sheer volume of travellers frequently overwhelms enforcement efforts.
Article by Viory
