[Resolved]  Indian Railways — Rodent Menace in 2nd AC Bogie of Super Fast Chennai Egmore-Dadar 12164UP Express

Address:

Thane, Maharashtra

From

Mr. Sunilkumar G. Vasu
302, Nandwani Appartment
Opp.Bhagat Kawaram Statue
Station Road
Ulhasnagar – 421 003
Mob.No.[protected]

Date : 08/02/2011


On Thursday, 3rd February, 2011,I, the undersigned alongwith my wife and two daughters travelled by 12163 Dn Dadar Chennai Egmore Superfast Express in 2nd AC Sleeper (A1) compartment--04052 vide ticket No.84960024 ..berth 13,37& 39from Kalyan to Renigunta thinking that travelling in 2nd AC alongwith my family would offer a better experience over a 2nd class sleeper but alas it turned out to be a bitter experience. That very night my wife got a fright of her life when she saw a huge bandicoot (rodent) criss-crossing the bogie without any fear. When we brought this to the notice of the coach attendant Mr. Suresh Omle, he shrugged off saying that the railways give us only poison to kill the small rats but nothing much can be done about this rodents. He further went on to add that these rodents may have entered this compartment through the underside of the vent when the train was parked in the yard for cleaning purposes and which was kept open as inverter exhaust.

I never knew that on my return journey on 6th Feb 2011 from Renigunta to Kalyan in the same bogie 2nd AC (A1) compartment--04052 vide ticket No.[protected]berth no 1, 3 & 1 RAC,that I would become a victim of rodent menace and that I had to pay a price for complaining against the rodents which has made its habitat in this bogie, as rodents has torn to shreds my expensive Strolley (suitcase plus trolley) containing the expensive silk churidars and sarees of my wife,sports shoes,clothes of my daughter & shoulder bag. To complain against this damage brought about by the rodents ,when I woke up the conductor, Mr.S.K. Panda from his slumber in berth No.5,he refused to give me the complaint book and instead suggested that I may complain with the Station Manager at Kalyan. He went on to say as a Conductor I can only register an FIR against stolen goods and not about the damages brought about by rodents. Again the same attendant, Mr. Suresh Omle shrugged off saying I can’t do much. Finally when I got down at Kalyan Station,I approached the Dy. Station Manager’s Office, the personnel manning it tried to pass on the buck saying that you should have registered a complaint with the conductor and not with us. When I finally loss my patience and informed them that I will complain to the higher authorities, they relented and allowed me to register my complaint and also the torn strolley and carry bag was inspected by the personnel who were present in the cabin, copy of the complaint is attached herewith for your kind perusal.

Today if bandicoots has torn to shreds my belongings in a 2nd AC bogie, I shudder to think that tomorrow it could be the turn of an infant or a toddler. This rodent could bite off the finger, arm or any part of the body with his or her parents blissfully unaware of what’s happening around and sleeping with the false sense of security of having paid a higher fare to sleep in the company of rodents. Little do they know that they have to pay a heavy price for the sheer callousness, negligence and inefficiency on the part of the railway authorities. These rodents can spread diseases like Plague & Leptospirosis too. As Indians, we are used to such things happening in poorly managed Govt.and Municipal hospitals across India but we never expected such a thing would happen in a Superfast train operating out of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.

Now, I fully understand why Indians Railways are unable to control dacoities and robberies in the train across India because if they are unable to fumigate and control the rodents in a so-called Superfast train charging superfast charges, how can they probably control dacoities and robberies which happen right under their nose and your personnel choose to look the other way.


(SUNILKUMAR G. VASU)