Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Safety on trains

Sir, — It is shocking that 36 persons were burnt alive in the Frontier Mail fire near Ludhiana on May 15. The cause of fire is said to be a stove-burst and passengers had no easy escape route as a lot of trunks and baggage allegedly carried by jawans blocked the entry and exit. The following measures will be useful in averting such accidents. A separate bogie /coach should be allotted for jawans, luggage beyond a specified size of trunks /bags should not be allowed in any reserved compartment, smoking and drinking should be prohibited, adequate fire safety measures must be provided in all coaches and a certificate from the Fire department a must for each coach.

Mahesh Kapasi,

New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — The train accident that has turned the lives and hopes of so many people into ashes leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

What are the measures that the railways take to combat such accidents? Is it not prudent on their part to have modern fire extinguishers in place? Is there is no fire alarm system to alert the passengers? Why was any passenger allowed to carry a stove on the train? The co-passengers should have strongly objected to it and brought it to the notice of the TTE.

M. Phani Raja Kumar,

Hyderabad

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