Kerala train derailment: Uninformed passengers caught offguard

KOZHIKODE: Commuters were put to inconvenience due to lack of communication from the railways after the derailment. When contacted, passengers were informed from Kannur, Kozhikode railway stations that trains towards the Southern side would reach up to Thrissur. But several trains stopped service at Shornur Junction.

“Railway has no consideration for passengers. We have to get down at Shornur and catch bus towards Ernakulam. Despite wrong information being given, railways didn’t care to arrange buses,” said Sanjay M., who boarded an Inter-city express from Kozhikode. No train moved towards the Northern side after the mishap except those coming from Palakkad. People who set off from Ernakulam towards Malabar had a terrible journey on Sunday. Jam packed KSRTC buses reached Kozhikode with anxious relatives waiting for their dears at bus stations.

Lack of proper information ruled the roost in all stations. Though railway announced that normal tickets would be refunded at major stations, no such facility has been arranged. Railway Palakkad divisional office maintained that two special trains were run between Shornur and Mangalore on Sunday following the derailment. “Bus service was arranged on passengers’ request from Shornur to Ernakulam,” Railway PRO told.