'Pay A Premium And Bleed': Elderly Man Bitten By Rat Onboard AC First Class Coach Of Una Himachal Express

Indore: Imagine paying a premium for an AC first class seat in an express train and getting bitten by a rat during the journey. The AC first class coaches of Indian Railways are specially designed for passenger comfort but 78-year-old Vijay Karan, traveling from Chandigarh to Indore in Madhya Pradesh, had a harrowing experience during his journey.

Karan, a retired government employee, was travelling in the first class AC coach of 19308 Una Himachal Express with his family on August 22 when he was bitten by a rat on his nose. Shocked by the bite and writhing in pain, Karan reported the matter to Ministry of Railways following which officials were instructed to arrange for his treatment. Sources said even as Karan bled, a medical team administered him first-aid and medication.

As the train reached Indore, Karan's family took him to a hospital where he was administered anti-rabies vaccine. The family alleged that a complaint was made to the railway staff regarding rats and filth in the coach. Following the complaint, the staff cleaned up the mess, but adequate arrangements were not made for rat removal and pest control, they alleged.

Meanwhile, the Railway Ministry clarified that rodent testing and other pest control measures were conducted before the train departed from Indore. How the rat entered the train while it was returning from Himachal to Indore is a matter of investigation.

Ratlam Division Public Relations Officer Mukesh Kumar said, "Following instructions from the Ministry, the passenger was immediately treated. The matter has since been resolved. The rat must have entered the first AC coach while the train was stationary, as such a situation is unlikely in an AC coach's cabin. The train in question operates from Indore, and the coach undergoes thorough maintenance, cleaning, and rodent and pest control before departure."

The public relations officer further stated, "No such complaint was received when this train departed from Indore. No passenger complained about rats during the journey from Indore to Himachal. The passenger was traveling from Chandigarh, and the complaint arose during the return journey. It's likely that the rat entered the coach due to the cabin or door being left open at a station during the journey. This is an unfortunate incident."

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