The plight

 An open letter to the Ministry of Railways

Honourable  Prime Minister

Subject:   Negligence in action leading to loss of lives.

It is a matter of extreme grief and disappointment that the India Railways is going through a turmoil.What happened in Uttar Pradesh was nothing but a coup de grace on the fragile threads by which our railway system is hanging.

Three railway accidents in four days claimed over 100 lives and left as many as 400 injured. According to the latest official figures, between April 2010 and January 2011, over 300 people were killed and 437 were left injured in railway related mishaps. In all, this year alone has seen six major railway accidents.Be it Uttar Pradesh, Assam or any other state, the Indian Railways is surely evolving into a mode of transport that cannot be entrusted upon.

With as many as three MoS and you at the helm of the Ministry, it is baffling to witness the kind of negligence and irresponsibility shown by the Railway staff and officials at the time of mishap.Tragedy does not strike before knocking at one’s door.Why were the ministry officials so sluggish in their actions?Why is there a shortage of 10,000 personnel in Railway Protection Force? Why are dynamic measures not undertaken to prevent the derailment  of trains?We, Indians, need an immediate response to all these questions.

Railway finances are also shrinking with working expenses going up. Basically Indian Railways is increasingly becoming an inefficient transporter.As the sabotaged bogies lay on the dilapidated platform, it was the nearby villagers who undertook the rescue operations and tried to save the critically injured passengers.The animosity that prevails in the hearts of an Indian citizen is reaching its threshold levels and the time won't be far, Mr.Prime minister when your government will have to face the ire of these Indian people.

As the death toll mounts, as I write this letter, your ministers are busy in mud slinging and cascading the blame of the railway mishaps on one another.It is indeed a sorry state of affairs for a railway network which is the fourth largest in the world and a carrier to over 18 million people everyday.

Mr. Prime Minister, are 5 lakh rupees sufficient to a family who has lost their only son; a sole bread earner.Are 5 lakh rupees adequate for a mother who has lost her children, is this amount enough for a wife who was waiting at the platform for her husband only to be informed that he would never return.Is 1 lakh the amount to give to a guy whose limbs are impaired for life? India awaits your reply.

Just think about the plight of the widows and orphans.All this loss, pain and suffering due to a negligence of a few hours.Is the price of life of an innocent middle class Indian 5 lakh rupees?

My pen trembles as I jot these words, Mr.Prime Minister.Tolerance levels have been crossed.We don't want any false claims.We need result-oriented actions from you and your subordinates in this serious issue and the forging of a reliable,scientifically tested and a swift Railway mechanism that can put an end to these mishaps which lead to gruesome consequences. 

Awaiting your reply.

  

Yours sincerely

 A middle class Indian