Over three million left for hometowns

LAHORE - One-third of the City has been vacated as lot of outsiders left for their respective hometowns on Friday a day ahead of Eidul Fitr. The exodus, started four days back, completed on Friday with the departure of over three million people. Though majority of the employees, both government and private, had already left Lahore, major bus terminals at Badami Bagh, Bund Road and Ferozepur Road and Lahore Railways Stations still witnessed extraordinary rush as a large number of outsiders always preferred to leave on the last day before Eid. Businessmen working in various markets, labourers and those who could not get conveyance the previous days, thronged bus terminals and Railways Station to reach their respective destinations. The departure of a large number of vehicles caused unprecedented rush on all exit points, mainly Ravi Bridge, Babu Sabu, Saggian Bridge and Ferozepur Road. With the large number of vehicles leaving Lahore, the exit points witnessed massive traffic jams till late Friday night. Vehicles leaving the City at exit points were seen moving at a snails pace, causing huge inconvenience to people going to their respective hometowns. Those leaving the City on their own cars faced only the inconvenience of traffic jams, but those travelling on public transport were faced by extra ordeal of huge rush of passengers, overloading and overcharging on the part of greedy transporters. The transporters were charging extra fare on almost all routes, thus adding to the woes and miseries of the passengers. To the question of overcharging, the transporters have a stereotype excuse that they hardly get any passenger while coming back to Lahore. Extra ordinary rush was witnessed at General Bus Stand and other bus terminals at Bund Road and Ferozepur Road with people making efforts to get a seat for their respective destinations. Due to unavailability of seats, the passengers were forced to travel while standing and even while sitting on bus rooftops. The situation was even worse at Lahore Railways Station. Inordinate delay in the arrival and departure of trains due to flood situation in the country enhanced hardships of passengers. The persons who failed to get seats were forced to travel while standing in passenger compartments. On branch routes, passengers were seen travelling while sitting in luggage compartments and even on rooftops.

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