Angry passengers ransack portion of Howrah railway station

KOLKATA - Passengers of a local train, angry at its late arrival, Wednesday ransacked and damaged a portion of the Howrah railway station, Eastern Railway officials said.

The passengers of 37232 Down Bandel local launched a protest in front of the offices of the station manager and deputy station manager (commercial) after the train reached the station behind schedule.

Mostly commuters working in government offices, they complained that local trains are regularly running late, causing problems to them every day.

Heated arguments between the irate passengers and railway officials led to the passengers ransacking the offices of the station manager and deputy station manager, the VIP lounge, the ticket counters and the door-frame metal detector near the exit, a railway official said.

The Bandel local reached Howrah station about 15 minutes late as it had to be halted outside the station for want of a free platform. When the train reached the platform, some passengers started ransacking railway properties. The station manager tried to pacify the mob, but he was manhandled by them, said Samir Goswami, Eastern Railway’s chief public relations officer.

Later security officials rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. At least 20 persons were arrested in this connection, he said.

Train services from and to Howrah station, however, remained unaffected, said Goswami.