Jamshedpur: Thirty minutes of shower and platform one at A1 Tatanagar station was flooded on Sunday evening, inconveniencing hundreds of passengers.
The rainwater poured in through chinks in the passenger sheds that were installed only last year along with the much-touted escalators. The gushing water prompted station officials to stall the moving stairway on platform one, augmenting troubles for the elderly and those with heavy luggage.
"We had to scurry for cover once it started raining. The irony was there was no cover! The overhead sheds were leaking. It was a tough job hauling luggage to dry ground," recalled Mridula Singh, a resident of Sonari, who was waiting to board a train to Howrah.
Avinash Dubey, a resident of Burmamines and a frequent traveller, said the station was waterlogged outside too. "Ever since the onset of monsoon, passengers are facing problems. The circulating area (place outside the station building) is almost always flooded. We have brought the matter to the notice of the station director, but to no avail," he said.
A vendor on the platform pointed out that the watery surface lacked friction and passengers often took a tumble. "So far, no one has been seriously injured, but it may happen. The flooding of the platform must stop," he said, adding that platform two too suffered a similar predicament if there were heavy showers.
Station director H.K. Balmuchu admitted the risk. "We are aware of the problems faced by passengers. Rainwater is leaking through gaps in the sheds. Outside the building, choked drains are responsible for waterlogging. We have referred the issues to our engineering wing. Action will be taken soon," Balmuchu said.
Tatanagar happens to be one of the busiest stations under South Eastern Railway. Located on Howrah-Mumbai main route, it witnesses a daily footfall of around 50,000 passengers.
Platform one assumes significance as most originating trains depart from there. It also hosts the food court. On the other hand, several mail and express trains pass through platform two.
