DIBRUGARH, Sept 26: The recently treated medical patients of the Northeast returning through 5929 Chennai – Dibrugarh Express as added some more diseases on being forced to travel in a bed bug ridden railway coach for over two nights with their various complaints falling in deaf ears of the railway authority.
The passengers travelling on coach no. SR00104, B-1 in AC three tyre departing from Chennai on September 24, was found full of bed bugs. The passengers travelling on the coach complained of the matter to the railway authorities in Chennai Station itself. The authorities promised that the problem would be taken care of at Vijaywada Station. However, the Commercial Manager, Maheswar Rao told the passengers that the required facilities are not available at the Vijaywada Station as committed and that the matter will be taken care of at Vishakhapattanam. He also promised to send the message to this effect to the authorities of Visakhapattanam. Inspite of all the above, the situation remained the same at Visakhapattanam. The Chief Commercial Manager based at Visakhapattanam, Parmeswar Rao on being apprised of the problems by the passengers denied receiving any information. The situation remained the same in subsequent major stoppage at Khurda, Kharagpur and TATA Nagar Railway Stations inspite of the promises made by the earlier stoppages who sent messages to subsequent stops. The Station Master of TATA Nagar even went to the extent of ridiculing the passengers advising them to catch and eat the bed bugs to get rid of the problems. In Kharagpur Railway Station, some of the passengers telephoned the Central Railway Ministry and complained the matter. A person who claimed to be the PA of the minister received the call and promised to take care of the matter. But no assistance was forthcoming and the till the time of reporting, the passengers on board of the coach has been experiencing the onslaught of the bed bugs making them more vulnerable of various diseases.
The Chennai – Dibrugarh Express is expected to reach its destination in Dibrugarh on the morning of September 27, and as reported by the passengers of the coach over phone, they fear that spending another night along with the blood thirsty bed bugs and the fear of more diseases may well break their patience.
The passengers stated that in spite of all tall claims made by the Railway Ministry, the fact remains that the Northeast is never a priority with the Railway Ministry and in extension to the Government of India. Some of the passengers grudgingly admit such action may be the handiwork of the anti-Mamata lobby working at behest of the former minister. But that is no reason to hold the people of Northeast at ransom. The passengers are however in admiration of the TT’s at Visakhapattanam and Vijaywada and the guard at Durgapur Station who within their limitations sought to help out the passengers. But their help was not enough in the face of the railway organizations apathy and criminal negligence to their duties. THE SENTINEL
The passengers travelling on coach no. SR00104, B-1 in AC three tyre departing from Chennai on September 24, was found full of bed bugs. The passengers travelling on the coach complained of the matter to the railway authorities in Chennai Station itself. The authorities promised that the problem would be taken care of at Vijaywada Station. However, the Commercial Manager, Maheswar Rao told the passengers that the required facilities are not available at the Vijaywada Station as committed and that the matter will be taken care of at Vishakhapattanam. He also promised to send the message to this effect to the authorities of Visakhapattanam. Inspite of all the above, the situation remained the same at Visakhapattanam. The Chief Commercial Manager based at Visakhapattanam, Parmeswar Rao on being apprised of the problems by the passengers denied receiving any information. The situation remained the same in subsequent major stoppage at Khurda, Kharagpur and TATA Nagar Railway Stations inspite of the promises made by the earlier stoppages who sent messages to subsequent stops. The Station Master of TATA Nagar even went to the extent of ridiculing the passengers advising them to catch and eat the bed bugs to get rid of the problems. In Kharagpur Railway Station, some of the passengers telephoned the Central Railway Ministry and complained the matter. A person who claimed to be the PA of the minister received the call and promised to take care of the matter. But no assistance was forthcoming and the till the time of reporting, the passengers on board of the coach has been experiencing the onslaught of the bed bugs making them more vulnerable of various diseases.
The Chennai – Dibrugarh Express is expected to reach its destination in Dibrugarh on the morning of September 27, and as reported by the passengers of the coach over phone, they fear that spending another night along with the blood thirsty bed bugs and the fear of more diseases may well break their patience.
The passengers stated that in spite of all tall claims made by the Railway Ministry, the fact remains that the Northeast is never a priority with the Railway Ministry and in extension to the Government of India. Some of the passengers grudgingly admit such action may be the handiwork of the anti-Mamata lobby working at behest of the former minister. But that is no reason to hold the people of Northeast at ransom. The passengers are however in admiration of the TT’s at Visakhapattanam and Vijaywada and the guard at Durgapur Station who within their limitations sought to help out the passengers. But their help was not enough in the face of the railway organizations apathy and criminal negligence to their duties. THE SENTINEL
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