CHENNAI: It took barely 20 minutes for hundreds of tickets for south-bound trains to be sold out after advance booking ahead of Diwali began on Wednesday morning.
With Diwali falling on October 30, ticket counters were kept open on Wednesday for advance booking for October 27 (120 days).
By 2 pm itself, Pandian Express that runs from Chennai Egmore to Madurai Junction had a long waiting list of 472 in sleeper class and 106 for 3 AC.
Same was the case with other trains such as Kanyakumari Superfast Express, Nilgiri Express, Cheran Superfast Express and Podhigai Superfast Express.
Though October 27 falls on Thursday, all the trains became full as soon as the bookings were opened as most of the working people in Chennai are eager to get back to their native to celebrate Diwali with their family.
Southern Railway officials said special trains would be announced two weeks before the festival.
Reservation for October 28 will be open on Thursday morning.