Passengers travelling on the Bairabi–Silchar passenger train faced severe inconvenience after several general coaches were allegedly packed with commercial goods and sacks of vegetables, leaving little space for commuters.
According to passengers, the incident was reported on the passenger train running from Bairabi to Silchar under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone.
Travellers alleged that seats meant for passengers, walking areas inside the coaches and even spaces in front of toilets were blocked with hundreds of sacks filled with colocasia (kachu) and other commercial goods. As a result, passengers struggled to move inside the compartment, while women, elderly passengers and children reportedly faced major difficulties accessing the toilets.
Several passengers expressed anger over what they described as gross negligence and misuse of passenger coaches for transporting commercial cargo. Commuters alleged that some unscrupulous traders were operating in collusion with railway staff, turning ordinary passenger compartments into makeshift goods wagons.
Daily passengers also claimed that the alleged activities were taking place openly despite the presence of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and railway checking staff.
Passengers have demanded immediate intervention from the Northeast Frontier Railway authorities and strict action against those responsible for blocking passenger coaches with commercial goods.
The incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety, overcrowding and alleged irregularities in train operations in the Barak Valley region.
