TRAVELLING: In Punjab Mail not safe

Ferozepur, November 24, 2012: If you are traveling in the Punjab Mail from Ferozeur to Mumbai, then you will have to take care for the safety of your luggage because it is a matter of surprise that only four jawans of Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been deputed for 24 passenger coaches attached with the Punjab Mail. 

Out of the four, two jawans remain on duty in the ladies compartment whereas according to the instructions, only lady constable could be deputed.   But due to shortage of lady staff, male jawans are being deputed in the ladies department.

The RPF staff deputed in Punjab Mail from Ferozeur to Delhi comes back on the next day in the same train from Mumbai to Feozepur.  In the past about months, there are frequent thefts in the trains as sometime back, the goods of lady passenger were stolen from AC coach, worth about Rs.24 lakhs ornaments and there is no clue as yet. 

About a week’s back, another incident of theft was noticed in which a loss of Rs.16 lakhs was reported which too has not yet been located. 

Even prior to these incidents, number of such incidents has happened but the same could not be traced out.

The most surprising factor is that if the luggage in VIP AC coaches is not safe, the fate in ordinary trains could be well imagined.  In fact, the Railways too is facing the staff shortage and all the time, the plea taken by the railways is of shortage of staff.

Taking a serious note of the thefts in the trains, N. C. Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager said, “The shortage of staff with the railways is admitted and he will definitely again write to the headquarters.  I shall also discuss with senior division safety commissioner to make some concrete arrangements for the safety of the passengers within the existing strength”.

Senior Safety Commissioner, Alok Kumar said, “He is personally reviewing the safety arrangements in the train and the issue of staff is being taken up with the senior officers”.