East Central Railway (ECR) has started issuing zero value tickets for the earthquake victims on their way back to India from Nepal.
The tickets are being issued free to those who have suffered huge losses and have no money on them. Till around 11.30am on Wednesday, around 7,000 tickets had been issued to Indians on their way back home from Nepal.
"The zero value tickets are tickets issued for free to those who are in a financial mess because of the earthquake. There are many Indians who are coming back from Nepal with no money left on them. The state government has set up a relief camp in Raxaul for them. Till Wednesday morning, around 7,000 tickets were issued since the facility started with the Centre's approval. The railway officials at the relief camp are issuing the tickets after ascertaining the situation of the victims and the exercise will continue till every quake-hit victim is back home. Besides, proper arrangements are being made for the people at the Raxaul, Jai Nagar and Sitamarhi railway stations. Each station has a special team to look after the passengers," said Mittal.
The East Central Railway has started special trains for the earthquake victims and increased coaches on some trains to accommodate them.
"The ECR has added additional seven coaches to the 13022 Mithila Express which goes to Howrah from Raxaul. A coach has been added to the 15273 Raxaul-Delhi Satyagraha Express too. Two special trains - Raxaul to Howrah and Raxaul to Hajipur - have become operational from Tuesday night," Mittal added.
Victims on their way home from Nepal can use the zero value tickets to travel anywhere in the country.
A senior railways official said: "If a person is from Gujarat and reaches any of the two relief camps in Raxaul without any money or resources, he/she would be given a zero value ticket. The special trains that started operating from late Tuesday evening have transported more than 7,000 earthquake survivors till now."
Union minusters Radha Mohan Singh and Ananth Kumar visited Raxaul station on Wednesday to monitor whether the passengers were getting the free tickets or not.
The passengers commended the railway's decision to issue the free tickets.
"I had a salon at Kathmandu and it was completely destroyed in the quake. I only had Rs 20 left with me when I was told about the zero value ticket facility. This was very helpful. Though our problems have just started, I can at least reach my home in Sheohar now," middle-aged Manoj Verma said on Wednesday, rushing towards Raxaul station.
Railway authorities ensured the service will operate till every person is back home from Nepal. "At present, two relief camps are functioning in Raxaul. One is being manned by Sashastra Seema Bal personnel, while the other is being looked after by the state government. Special trains are being run on the basis of the number of passengers assembled at the stations. The trains will continue to run till everything is normal," Sudhanshu, the district railway manager of Sitamarhi, said.
