A controversy has erupted after a train with substandard conditions was assigned to transport Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from Tripura to Jammu for Amarnath Yatra duty, leading to the suspension of four railway officials. The incident, which sparked outrage after videos of the train's deplorable state surfaced online, has prompted swift action from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
The BSF troops, comprising approximately 1,200 personnel from 13 companies, were scheduled to board a special train on June 6 from Udaipur in Tripura, with the destination being Jammu Tawi. The troops were to be deployed for security arrangements during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to commence on July 3. The train was scheduled to make multiple stops to collect troops from four locations across Tripura, Assam and West Bengal. However, the train that was provided to the BSF on June 9 was found to be in a "poor and unhygienic" condition.
Videos recorded by jawans inspecting the coaches revealed disturbing conditions, including garbage-strewn compartments, unusable and dirty toilets, broken seats, damaged windows and doors and malfunctioning electrical fittings. Cockroaches were also seen milling around on the floor. These videos quickly went viral on social media, drawing strong criticism and raising concerns about the treatment of security forces.
The Railway Ministry has taken a serious view of the incident, emphasizing that the dignity of the security forces is paramount and that such negligence will not be tolerated. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has suspended three senior section engineers and a coaching depot officer of Alipurduar Rail Division. Furthermore, a detailed inquiry has been ordered to ensure that such lapses do not recur in the future.
Following the outcry, a special train with better facilities has been arranged to ensure the smooth and comfortable movement of the BSF personnel. The new train was arranged from Agartala with full attention to their convenience and honour, according to the Railway Ministry. The BSF personnel refused to board the initial train after its poor condition was discovered. The railway authorities were informed about the situation, and they acknowledged the mistake and agreed to provide a replacement.
The incident has also triggered political reactions, with Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed criticizing the government for focusing on "flashy trains" while neglecting the travel conditions of ordinary citizens and security personnel. Mohamed expressed her dismay on X, stating that it was a shame that the BSF soldiers were provided with a filthy train full of dirt, cockroaches, and broken seats while heading for Amarnath Yatra duty.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Zone, initially dismissed the allegations, claiming that the video depicted an unexamined coach that was being sent for repair and was not intended for the BSF troops. However, this claim was contradicted by the subsequent inquiry and disciplinary action taken by the Railway Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned the deployment of over 52,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel for the Amarnath Yatra. A total of 581 companies, each comprising 90-100 personnel, will be deployed to ensure the security of the pilgrimage, which is scheduled to conclude on August 9.
