On 21.05.2011, my 65 year old mother, alining from breathing trouble was travelling alone from Bhubaneswar to Howrah by Falaknuma Express-train no. 12704. The PNR No. of the ticket she was holding is 1349801847. Enroute to Howrah the train was stopped at Santragachi due to the breaking of overhead power cable owing to a squall. The train was held up for more than an hour before it was declared by the railways authorities that the train will not complete its journey to Howrah station. The railway authorities did not take any responsibility for reaching stranded these passengers to Howrah. An aged and ailing lady had to fend her way to Howrah using taxi service in an unknown area. It could have well cost her life as she has severe breathing problems when put under stress. To add to the woos at Howrah station there was no announcement about the decision of not completing the train's scheduled journey.
1 Such inhuman and insensitive treatment from a Government of India department is a matter of shame.
2 The Indian Railways should refund the fare charged from passengers as it has failed to deliver the final service for which it was paid.
3 There should be ample measures taken in the future by the railways to arrange for alternatives in such cases so that passengers are not treated like inanimate objects who can be dumped at any place due to the inefficiency of the system.
4 The Indian Railways should take a leaf out of the airline industry that take suitable measures to ensure that the passengers of snag hit flights are reached to their destination.
5 It is a must that Indian Railways is also made to follow the minimum business ethics.