BSF complains about filthy train coaches for Amarnath duty, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acts
The Border Security Force complained to the North-Eastern Railways about the 'unhygienic/filthy' condition of 'most of the coaches' in a special train allotted on June 9 evening for movement of its 1,200 personnel from the Udaipur station in Tripura to Jammu Tawi in J&K for Amarnath Yatra duty.
Stating it was 'not possible for troops to travel such a long distance' in the dilapidated coaches, the BSF Train Commandant, who complained to the Agartala Station Manager, sought their immediate replacement.
On Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took 'serious note of the incident involving the deployment of an unsuitable/old train' and a probe was ordered, a Ministry official said, adding that four officials – the Coaching Depot Officer and three Senior Section Engineers – of the Alipurduar railway division had been placed under suspension.
According to the official, a special train had been arranged exclusively for BSF personnel and it would leave the Agartala station Wednesday night.
'The Railway Minister has made it clear that the dignity and comfort of security forces are of utmost priority and that such negligence will not be tolerated at any level,' the official said.
In the complaint to the Agartala Station Manager, the BSF Train Commandant had listed all that was wrong with the coaches – broken interiors including toilet doors, infested with cockroaches and insects, filthy berths and washrooms without water or electricity.
The BSF Train Commandant said 'it is not possible for troops to travel such a long distance… in unhygienic/filthy and inhumane conditions' and there is every possibility that 'most of them may fall sick even before deployment'.
The officer pointed out that the special train was made available at the Udaipur station only at 6.30 pm on June 9 though it had been requisitioned for June 6. According to the officer, the entire battalion was to be inducted and deployed by June 12 as per directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The officer sought immediate replacement of the dilapidated coaches, and also said the special train should be 'immediately placed for timely travel' to 'reach the destination as per schedule given by MHA and BSF Force HQs'.
The BSF attached four files of videos and photographs of the allotted train.
A spokesperson for the BSF said, 'We made a request to provide a special train for our 1,200 personnel. On June 9, they had provided a train but there were some shortcomings and we immediately informed their (Railways) senior officials about the situation.'
The upcoming Amarnath Yatra will be the first major pilgrimage in J&K after the Pahalgam terror attack and the hostilities between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor.
The Centre has decided to deploy 581 companies of paramilitary personnel to ensure adequate security for the Yatra.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal correspondent with The Indian Express, Business Bureau. He covers India's two key ministries- Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. He frequently uses the Right to Information (RTI) Act for his stories, which have resulted in many impactful reports. ... Read More
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