Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum Chennai (North) directed the Southern Railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to a passenger for facing hardship during his travel in Sapthagiri Express from Tirupathi to Chennai two years ago.
In the petition V Paul Raj of Tirunelveli, submitted that he traveled in the Sapthagiri Express from Tirupathi to Chennai on July 24, 2017 in an unreserved coach. He said for over two and half hours there was no electricity in the crowded coach.
The coach in the train ran without electricity from 5.50 pm till 8.25 pm. There was no water also. The issue was rectified only when the train reached Arakkonam station.
He said he faced severe mental agony and sought a compensation of Rs 3 lakh from the Southern Railways.
However, the Southern Railway denied the allegation and stated that there was a sudden power failure and the generator also stopped working due to dropping of belts in the train.
The unforeseen fault was caused by external factors like cattle run over and other foreign objects. It was attended at the nearest station by the maintenance staff.
The bench presided by Lakshmikantham said that the Southern Railway officials admitted the fault was due to a belt drop. The bench directed Southern Railways to pay the petitioner a compensation of Rs 10,000.
