Hyderabad: Despite Swachh Bharat campaigns, passengers face unhygienic conditions on trains especially in sleeper coaches. A few passengers travelling on No. 12719 Ajmer-Hyderabad express sent this newspaper photographs of the situation in Coaches 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Mr Pathan Kareem Ullah Khan from Hyderabad said his family had boarded the train at Ajmer on Wednesday evening but water was not available in all the five bogies.
“We lodged complaints with authorities from the train ticket examiner to coach assistants, and the station masters at major railway stations. There was no response and we faced a terrible situation during the 36-hour journey,” he said.
A senior citizen, Mr Khan Saheb, and his wife who travelled in Coach S3 said there was no power supply in the bogie throughout the journey. “Though we made complaints, no one took care. At a railway station, a few electricians attended to the issue but did not resolve it and we travelled without lights and fans,” he said.
Mr Kamar and Ms Shahin Begum who were returning to the city after visiting the Ajmer Dargah said apart from the lack of warter, the sinks and toilets were dirty.
“We didn’t expect such an experience due to the negligence of the staff. A majority of passengers used toilets at the stations and sinks on the platforms,” said Mr Kamar who was travelling with 15 family members including children and senior citizens.
Asked about the complaints, SCR chief public relations officer M. Uma Shanker Kumar said the zonal officials should take care of water and hygiene issues at the departing station.
“The station where the train started is under the jurisdiction of North West Railway. When the train reached Secunde-rabad, we attended to the issue and resolved it,” he said.
