1947 Partition - Refugees Travelling Via Train

Millions travelled via trains from across the border after 1947 Partition. Amidst the frenzy and chaos, people went to great lengths to get onto the trains. They were overloaded. The railways also witnessed some of the worst violence during Partition. Many trains would arrive at their destinations with only mutilated bodies of the passengers. Many were also guarded by army or special forces and those often made it safely to their destination.

This image shows a train filled with refugees arriving at Lahore Station from India. The trains carrying the refugees would be filled more than capacity. There were people inside the train, clinging onto the sides of the carriages and on top.

This image is from the collection of F.E. Chaudhry, the only known local Pakistani photographer who captured the events at the time.