Woman claims she was not allowed to take pet into coupe despite having permission; says she was allowed only after complaining to animal NGO
Pandey says Ma Belle was allowed to be in the coupe with her after 7 hours of the journey
A 25-year-old Powai resident was not allowed to take her 5-month-old Indie dog in the first AC coach while travelling from Mumbai to Lucknow on a train on Monday. She was forced to keep her dog in the guard’s coach in a cage despite having permission for the same and having reserved a coupe for the journey. She claimed the TC did not allow her to take her dog into the coupe with her. After 7 hours when she complained to the People for Animals (PFA), she was finally allowed to take the dog into the AC coupe with her.
Megha Pandey is an interior designer and has recently begun business in Lucknow. She wanted to take along her female dog to Lucknow with her in the Pushpak Express. Passengers have to seek permission from the railways for this, and can reserve a coupe for the same. Pandey said she had done both, but at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), she was allegedly forced to keep her dog in the guard’s compartment. She claimed the TC allegedly didn’t allow her to take the dog into the AC coach.
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Pandey said, “After a lot of hassle, sending my dog into the guard drop box seemed to be the only option. But the condition of the cage there made me anxious. Later my co-passenger, Kiran Srivastava, who has pets herself, told me that there is a clause that if the co-passenger has no issue, I could take my pet into the coupe. I got down at Khandwa Junction and literally begged the guard to let Ma Belle go with me. He kept referring to her as “‘luggage” and said that he can only drop off the luggage at Lucknow station.”
“Srivastava spoke to the controller of Bhusaval Junction, who said he would speak to Controller of Khandwa, where the train was to reach in 2 hours. We approached PFA President Lata Parmar, and her team member, Mohit Chawre from Kalyan. Finally, we received a call from Chaware that I could collect Ma Belle when I reached Khandwa. Ma Belle was shivering and scared. I got her to the coach, where she had her first meal, at 5pm,” Pandey said.
Speaking to mid-day Parmar said, “Pets are allowed in the train with permission. The guard’s room is not safe to leave a dog alone. If co-passengers don’t have an issue, then passengers can travel with their pets.” Shivaji Sutar, CR, CPRO, said, “I don’t know the details of this case, I will look into it.”
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