RailEnquiry

PATNA: Frequently targeted by Maoists and protesters during bandhs and issues as trivial as death of a cattle on tracks respectively, the East Central Railway (ECR) zone has incurred a loss of over Rs 17.26 crore in the past three years.The ECR lost over Rs 2.26 crore between 2011 till June this year on account of damage to its properties by agitators, Inspector General of Police of Railway Protection Force (RPF), ECR, Atul Pathak told PTI.The damage on this account was maximum in 2011 at Rs 1.36 crore.The zone suffered a loss of over Rs 9.58 crore due to damage to ECR properties caused by outlawed Maoists groups.Headquartered at Hajipur, ECR comprises five divisions -- Danapur, Mughalsarai, Dhanbad, Sonepur and Samastipur.Burning of 22 coaches and two engines by protesters at Dhamaraghat in Khagaria district after 28 devotees were mowed down by Saharsa-Patna on August 19 bled the Railway Rs 15 crore, Pathak said.In view of the situation, he said, the RPF and other agencies have tightened security across the zone.ECR Chief Public Relations Officer Amitabh Prabhakar said that awareness campaigns were being carried out regularly to educate people against causing damage to railway properties.It has been witnessed that Railways became the victim of public anger on even petty issues like death of a cow or goat on tracks or agitation against delay in issuing marksheets to college students.Recently, bandh sponsored by RJD and BJP in Saran over the death of 23 children after eating poisonous midday meal saw large scale damage to railway properties and stoppage of many trains.