Title - 471 tickets sold for NE on Sunday - Bangalore

Although the exodus of people from the north-eastern community leaving the city has waned, with only 471 tickets being booked to Guwahati on Sunday, railway authorities are keeping their fingers crossed.

According to AK Agarwal, the divisional railway manager, there is a direct train to Dibrugarh in Assam on Monday and it is not possible to predict how many people will board the direct train.

“I am keeping my fingers crossed. A large number of people turned up to take the direct train to Guwahati (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). However, when there was no direct train, the number of people who came to the station was less. As there is a direct train on Monday, I cannot predict what the situation will be,” said Agarwal.

Although about 200 people gathered at the City Junction station on Sunday afternoon, RPF and general railway police deployed at the station directed them to Yeshwanthpur station from where a Howrah-bound train was scheduled to leave at 7.35 pm. Agarwal said to accommodate passengers, an extra coach was added to the train. With much of the action shifting to Yeshwanthpur station, the scene was less chaotic at Bangalore City Junction station on Sunday.

Solidarity Members of various NGOs displayed placards outside the Yeshwanthpur railway station, requesting people from the north east not to leave the city. Volunteers from IT/ITeS Employees Centre distributed contact numbers and notes spreading the message of unity to all the affected people.

Bipin Chereekandi, a volunteer, said: “Every citizen has the right to make a living or just live in any place in India.

Although the north eastern community is feeling vulnerable now, we want to remind them that we are along with them. We hope and request them to return soon,” he said.