RailEnquiry

Four years after the Jammu-Tawi Express was torched at the Jalandhar Cantt railway station during post-Vienna riots in Jalandhar, it is likely to be removed from the tracks soon, with formalities in this regard being completed a couple of days ago.Though the Railways received the permission for its disposal from the police on November 11, 2011, one-and-a-half years later, the charred train — comprising 19 coaches — is still parked at the Jalandhar Cantt railway station near Dakoha railway Fatak. This has been the case since May 25, 2009.

When contacted, Ferozepur Divisional Railway Manager Naresh Goel said: "No objection certificates were needed from all concerned departments, including engineering. Without these the train could not have been moved. Just a couple of days ago, all formalities regarding its disposal were completed. Soon, it will be removed from the track."

"This is a precious property of the Railways and after it was burnt, the Railways further damaged it by neglecting it for years," A senior Railway official said. The Jammu-Tawi Express was burnt during the violence that broke out in Jalandhar and across Punjab following attacks on Sant Niranjan Das — head of Dera Sach Khand Ballan — in Jalandhar and his deputy, Sant Ramanand, in Vienna (Austria) on May 24, 2009.

A day later, Ramanand had succumbed to his injuries. After the news of his death spread, dera followers had forced the evacuation of 19 coaches of the Jammu-Tawi Express and set three of these on fire. This happened right in front of senior Jalandhar police officials and the Army on May 25, 2009. The fire in the three coaches spread and damaged all the 19 coaches. While the belongings of a number of passengers were reduced to ashes, no casualty was reported.Now, the train has become a hunting ground for drug addicts and thieves, who steal its parts.