It's only been a few days since a passenger named Ali Khan lost his life on a train from Kerala to Delhi. While the earlier reports suggested that he died after the heavy berth fell on him, IRCTC was quick to claim that he died after the improperly latched berth fell on him. Recently, a passenger on board the S1 coach of 16525 CAPE – SBC Express lost his sleep after he saw how the berth allotted to him was a potential threat to his own and his co-passenger's lives. On July 4, he had to spend the entire night sitting on the berth, on his journey to Bengaluru. The passenger on board train number 16525 CAPE – SBC Express to Bengaluru shared the visuals of dangerously loose berths with Manorama Online. In the visuals, berths, including the screws that are supposed to secure them, can be seen hanging loosely from the ceiling of the compartment.
He says that he couldn’t help but think about the plight of the passenger who had recently died after a train berth fell on him. Ali Khan, a native of Maranjeri died while undergoing treatment at a hospital due to injuries sustained after a middle berth in a train compartment collapsed on him. Now, the shocking visuals of another loose berth prove that the railways aren’t always able to promise ‘Shubyatra’ even to passengers with reserved seats. Passengers demand that the railways should take timely action to ensure the safety of rail travellers. The passengers often protest against the authorities’ apathy towards their concerns regarding safety and other difficulties.
Railway version
Meanwhile, the DRM, Bengaluru has refuted the passenger's claim that the berth was loose. "The screw on the covering plate, which is provided for aesthetic look, got loose and has been tightened. This plate is not load-bearing component. The load-bearing support bracket remains intact," the DRM said.
Ali Khan's death in Millennium Superfast Express
62-year-old Ali Khan from Ponnani died last month while he was travelling in the Millennium Superfast Express (Train 12645 Ernakulam - H.Nizamuddin) on June 15 when the train was passing by Telangana. He was rushed to a hospital in Warangal in Telangana with severe injuries. Three bones of his neck were reportedly fractured and he became paralysed following the accident. Manorama News reported that he underwent three emergency surgeries. According to the report, the efforts of the doctors went in vain as Khan breathed his last.
In a clarification issued to Onmanorama, Railway authorities claimed that the berth in the sleeper coach had no defect and it was unsecured. As per the information received from the TTE, two seats were allotted. Ali Khan was in seat number 57 of the S6 coach (lower berth). The passenger in the middle berth upgraded his seat and went to the third AC coach. Due to improper chaining of the seat of the upper berth by the passenger, the seat fell. The berth had no defects, according to a press note issued by the Railways. Ali Khan was supposed to disembark at Warangal. As soon as the incident was reported, he was rushed to a hospital at Ramagundam and then to a multi-speciality clinic, authorities said.
