Category: Editorials

Read this article in Hindi : https://wp.me/pajx4R-7h

Railways has an unbreakable relationship in the lives of the Indian people, as a companion of our joys and sorrows . Millions of people use the railway to go to their destination. Overall, there is no other appropriate alternative to the railway for daily short distance commuters in India.

Today, out of blue, a letter from the teacher of the Pharmacy College, Gwalior was found in old records, an appreciation letter. The letter reminisced many old memories. It is an old yet thrilling story.

In those days there was neither twitter nor Facebook account of the railway and you couldn’t contact with railway officials directly. It would have been around two o’clock in the morning, the landline phone of Rail Duniya rang. The person on the other end was speaking in hushed voice, “Sir, I apologize for troubling you at midnight, but please help us”

The story follows, the person who called up, was a teacher of Pharmacy College of Gwalior . They were returning from Ooty to Gwalior with their students, from the educational tour. There were about 25 reservations in the sleeping compartment, second coach from the engine and the adjacent boggie was unreserved general. A large crowd of passengers traveling towards Sabarimala climbed in the coach and some goons started frightening the people in the compartment. It was the night time, the group was facing problem due to language barrier, and there were no railway officials neither the RPF nor the TTE in the couches. The chains for emergency stopping the train were not working.

The teacher had made every possible effort. He talked to them, prayed to them and even offered to share half of their seats and let the girls adjust in the remaining place. But the people were now harassing the teacher and the students.

The train was Millennium Express and our passengers were from Coimbatore. All of his reserved places had already filled up from Ernakulam. These people boarded the train but we already told you the scene of what was happening.

In the night, the people tried to call the local police,  but got no help. Then desparate and distressed, they got the telephone number of our office from our magazine Rail Duniya.

It was the time of action for Railduniya. At 2.30 am, when the call came, we immediately gave the mobile number of the zonal commissioner of the RPF of the South Central Railway Zone. The train had already entered South Central Railway from Southern Railway Zone.

We informed the Commissioner was about the circumstances. He took the position of train immediately and alerted the RPF office on the route. They were asked to go with full preparation and provide security to the passengers, as well as to give all updates to the headquarters.

Then you will be amazed at what the railway security force did. After the train stopped at Katpadi station, the RPF team surrounded the whole compartment and forcefully opened the doors, entered inside and took those goons and secured our passengers, put them in their places. And not so much, a team of four RPF was also deployed on Duty with our passengers in the coach with them till Gwalior.

It is unusual, sometimes, experiences one might have to go through in the journey are  not very good. Well, it is story of old days, today the railway department has become very responsive and alert towards security. Armed police are also present in the trains and at stations.

The above story is a true phenomenon. Rail Duniya is always in your service.

Railways helpline number is 182.

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Regards

Rail Duniya