Huge train delays, and talk about new and improved trains coming to naught resulted in frustration and boiling over of pent-up emotions yesterday morning. The delay provoked passengers to go on a violent rail roko agitation at Diva railway station near Thane. A number of people were injured, including policemen. Cops had to resort to lathi charge after the commuters started pelting stones and the agitation escalated. One could see chaos at Central Railway stations till late afternoon, with trains being delayed throughout. The tracks were occupied by protesting commuters leading to further delays and services could only restart after passengers moved out. Some vehicles were also torched in the ensuing melee, as the ire spilt outside stations.

The problems have their roots in two primary things. Commuters’ expectations soar as Railways make grandiose announcements about improvements in services and new trains. Secondly, when an untoward incident occurs or there is no communication between Railways authorities and commuters. One cannot stress this enough — channels of communication need to be kept open to prevent panic, rumour mongering and finally incidents like hysterical passengers jumping on tracks and running pell-mell towards platforms. In tragic and extreme circumstances they have been mowed down by oncoming trains as they have been running on the track.