Passenger trains filled with unwanted bedfellows

Most travellers face difficult situations as bedbugs emerge from bogies during journey

LAHORE: The negligence of the railway department towards hygiene on trains operating from the province has resulted in bogies full of unwanted bedfellows. Passengers are facing serious problems due to bedbugs emerging from the bogies of air-conditioned class cabins.

According to details obtained by The Express Tribune, most passengers travelling in trains moving from Lahore to Karachi face extremely difficult situations due to the poor hygiene and the mentioned creepy crawlies.

Due to the bedbugs, passengers, especially women and children, cannot travel comfortably. On the other hand, staff working at the Karachi and Lahore washing lines are misreporting the hygiene conditions of bogies. Even though the passenger compartments are still in deplorable condition, the bogies are sent to the platform with the cleaners’ stamp of approval.

An official of the railway's department says due to the lack of washing line staff and delayed trains from Karachi, the bogies are sent back to the port city with little or no cleaning services performed. “Similarly, the same problem happens from the Karachi side due to which bedbugs are growing in the bogies by the day.”

He adds that the main reason for negligence in cleaning work is the lack of staff. “Yesterday, it was very difficult for women, children and other passengers to travel due to bedbugs coming out from various cabins of the AC Business Class of Pak Business Express Train, which was travelling from Lahore to Karachi.”

He further says that the passengers laid their beds in the corridor of AC bogies due to the fear of being bitten by the bedbugs. “It is becoming more and more difficult for passengers to travel due to the bedbugs in bogies and the railway's department seems to be indifferent over the issue.”

He explains that the reports of all trains state positive feedback in terms of hygiene conditions. “The message conveyed to senior officials of the railway's administration is matters are under control.”

Another official of the railway's department said that they are trying to provide better and cleaner travel facilities to passengers. “Passengers are experiencing problems while travelling right now, but the issues will be resolved soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2019.