Indian Railway refuses compensation to passengers in the Rajdhani Express after fire

The Indian Railways has allegedly settled the passengers who lost their luggage in the fire incident on the Thiruvananthapuram – Delhi Rajdhani Express by giving them just Rs 5000, without taking proper action to provide compensation for the lost luggage. Although 35 passengers, including Keralites M Abhilash, A Abhijith and Mary Seena, waited at the nearby Kota station in Rajasthan for hours, the authorities were apathetic to their demands. The passengers were instructed to upload the details of the lost luggage and lodge their complaints via the railway’s official website.

A native of Chavara, Kollam, Abhilash, who was travelling in the B1 coach where the fire broke out, is a soldier posted in Punjab. “I woke up hearing the cries of children. The coach was filled with smoke. I quickly grabbed my phone and ran to the door, even without wearing my footwear. I saw a child sitting near the toilet and crying. I grabbed the child and jumped out of the coach. The coach was completely engulfed in flames within minutes. It took more than an hour for the fire force to reach the spot, surrounded by fields. Members of a political party bought us footwear after we reached the Kota station,” Abhilash recounted.

Meanwhile, Puthoor native Linu Pappachan, who was in the B2 coach, said that the passengers were able to escape as those who hadn’t slept made noise and alerted everyone when they saw the smoke. Linu, a Havildar in the Indian Army, was returning to his station in Punjab after the holidays. Nediyavila native Sanu L Raj, who is also a Havildar in the Indian Army, stated that the coach attendant had urged him to wake up the passengers in the B4 coach.

Keralites from all across the state and soldiers who were returning to their units after the holidays were on the train when the accident happened. Meanwhile, the soldiers who were supposed to report for duty yesterday informed their respective units and extended the reporting dates. The Railways have not yet responded to us regarding the allegations.