Srinagar: Travellers using the modest transport of trains in Kashmir had a bitter taste during this time of the season as they shiver throughout the journey in absence of window panes in the trains running from Banihal to Baramulla.
“This is a horrible experience. We shivered throughout the journey from Banihal to Nowgam as icy winds pierced us”, passengers who deboarded from the train in the morning at Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar told Kashmir Wire.
Abdul Razak said he is cursing his luck. “I told my family members that we will hire a sumo but they insisted to travel through train as it is modest transport and will consume less time to reach our destination.
“ But we were not aware that we will have to cover ourselves with blankets throughout the journey.Our eyes are moist due to gushing winds we had to face”, he added.
His fellow travellers shook their heads in agreement and expressed resentment over the lack of maintenance of the train bogeys by the concerned authorities.
The passengers have to brave the freezing temperatures as the gushing winds enter the train in absence of window panes.
“I am working in a government department in Srinagar and have to reach my workplace by 10:30 am. I leave at 8:30 in the morning when there is biting cold and it gets colder when we board the train,” a resident of Qazigund Mir Mushtaq said.
He said when he reaches the office, his legs barely support him. The first task I do is to warm myself for half an hour or so with embracing a heater. Besides, most of the seats in the train are torn and have not been repaired till now, Mushtaq complained.
The officials of northern railway, however, blamed the passengers for breaking the window panes and tearing seats. “Who breaks these windows? Obviously, passengers,” said a rail official.
“The passengers in the valley have yet not realized that the train is a public property and damage to it may cause inconvenience to them only,” he said.
He said that out of the six rakes, they have repaired five and the work on the sixth rake is going on. (Kashmir Wire)
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