Mumbai | In yet another unfortunate incident on the Konkan railway route, a family from Kannur fell victim to a robbery during their Mumbai vacation aboard the Netravati Express (Train No. 16346) on August 30th. Musammil Musa, a Gulf-based worker, and his family were traveling in the A1 second AC coach en route to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) when the incident occurred. The family discovered the loss of approximately ₹20,000, including UAE dirhams and Indian rupees, from their bag upon reaching Ratnagiri station the following morning.
Musammil Musa recounted his ordeal to Metro Vartha, stating that initially, railway authorities were reluctant to accept his complaint, causing considerable disappointment. It was only after the intervention of Mr. Manoj Kumar, the President of the Kerala Cultural Society in Panvel, that the authorities finally agreed to register the complaint. Musammil Musa further revealed that several other passengers in the same coach also reported losses.
The frequency of thefts on trains has left solo female travelers in a state of fear, whether it be during holidays or regular journeys. Sheeja Anil, a resident of Mulund, expressed her apprehension, recounting a previous experience of theft during her train journey, which has since made her anxious, even about using the bathroom.
Passengers are growing increasingly critical of the apparent negligence displayed by the railway authorities, who they feel have not deployed enough security personnel to ensure the safety of travelers. They argue that it is the responsibility of the railways to provide comprehensive security to passengers, failing which, legal action may become necessary.
In response to these incidents, Prakash Kattakada, former convener of Railway Action Committee (RAC), expressed concern and urged the railways to take immediate steps to address the rising issue of thefts on the Konkan route.
The safety of passengers on the Konkan Path remains a significant concern, and travelers are hopeful that corrective measures will be taken to protect their journeys in the future.
