Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 21: Shattered glass window panels and broken seats on train pairs plying from Banihal to Baramulla in Kashmir valley continue to pose danger to lives of commuters.
The commuters said the failure of Railway Department to conduct repair or maintenance work on the broken windows and seats was posing danger to lives of thousands of travellers. “A half damaged window glass frame can break anytime and hit a passenger. It can prove fatal particularly if a train is moving with a high-speed,” said Umar Mushtaq, a commuter.
He said the Railway Department’s move to cover the broken window panes with shabby cardboard sheets has doubled the risk. “Since the cardboard sheets are loosely attached to the frame it can break anytime. It was a temporary measure and was supposed to be replaced be by new windowpanes after winter. But nothing has happened so far,” Umar added.
Commuters said they have lodged several complaints about the poor maintenance with the concerned department several times but to no avail. “The majority of the coaches are poorly maintained. The windows are broken, seats have no backrest, and the emergency chain does not work in several coaches. I met a railway official and complained about the condition but he just said it was common everywhere,” they said.
Another regular commuter, Abid Rashid, a student said that he frequently travel in train and the conditions remain to be same. “Not just the window glasses there are several issues that need to be rectified by the Railways Department,” he said.
Passengers, particularly women and elderly men also complained of health issues due to broken seats and broken windows in coaches. “A seat without a backrest is useless for me and whenever I sit on such seats I develop pain in my back and bone joints. The journey in peak hours is miserable,” Mohammad Jabar, a commuter, said.
Last year, the train services in Kashmir were suspended for nearly four months following the unrest triggered by the killing of Burhan Wani and his associates. During the unrest, the protesters damaged railway tracks at several places in South Kashmir and pelting stones on the train that halted the services and damaged several coaches.
A railway official said they have already assessed the damage and placed the order for the maintenance. “We have already made the assessment and placed the order but don’t know when will we receive it. As soon as the new window panes arrive, we will fix them immediately,” he said. He said for last two years makeshift shutters were fitted on the broken windows. “To stop the winds we block the windows with wooden shutters. This was done for last two years. The wooden shutters have been fitted in some coaches,” the official added.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Northern Railways, Neeraj Sharma, when contacted said they will look into the matter and will ensure a smooth journey to the commuters.
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