Title - Passengers stage dharna

Bitten by bug, over 70 passengers who travelled in an air conditioned coach (B 2) of Rameshwaram and Okha (Train Number: 16733) weekly express train staged a dharna in front of Station Manager’s room at Salem Railway Junction on Saturday morning.The passengers claimed that the coach was infested with bugs that did not permit them to sleep since the train left Rameshwaram at 8.45 on Friday night.Despite their repeated requests with coach attendant and ticket examiner, no remedy was initiated.When the train reached Salem Junction early Saturday morning, the passengers laid siege to the Station Manager’s room.

Thirty minutes delay:Officials held talks with them saying that Salem Junction had no facility to replace the air conditioned coach. They also informed the agitated passengers that they would inform their counterparts in Tirupati through which the train would pass through and make arrangements to replace the coach.Convinced the passengers boarded the train, which left Salem Junction after a delay of 30 minutes.