17 October,2010 08:11 AM IST | | Sanjeev Devasia
Western Railway Guards are a miffed bunch after they have been given an additional job responsibility -- to clear local train rooftops of travellers. Following an increase in reports of deaths due to electrocution, the Western Railway (WR) administration took the decision to ensure commuter safety.
The Guards have been instructed to ensure that train rooftops are clear and trains run as per schedule. Railway staff at various stations have also been asked to make efforts to dissuade commuters from travelling dangerously, and make sure violators get off the train.
Says a WR Guard, "Now we are expected to leave our core duty and look out for commuters on rooftops. If something goes wrong, Guards will be held responsible." Guards claim that in most cases, offenders are agile enough to run on the roof to evade being being caught. This is when they fall or get electrocuted.
"We will oppose the decision if the administration forces Guards to take responsibility for offenders who travel on rooftops," said DY Mahale, of the Western Railway Employees Union.
Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sharat Chandrayan said, "The Guards are not responsible for offenders travelling on rooftops. They have merely been instructed to dissuade such behaviour."
The numbers
Last year, the WR registered cases against 2,134 commuters for travelling on rooftops of trains in the suburban section alone. 731 of these were sent to jail.