Title - Stray cattle menace hits rail traffic in Muktsar

Muktsar : The stray cattle menace is proving to be a major hindrance in smooth flow of rail traffic across the district with passengers having little option but to wait for hours together to board trains.Most of the night trains are often seen running behind schedule because of the menace. Ironically, the administration seems to be waiting for a major mishap before swinging into action.The records of train arrival timings procured by The Tribune show that the last passenger train of the day, 74984, which runs from Fazilka to Kotkapura through Muktsar, has been able to reach the local railway station on its scheduled time (9:07 pm) only once thus far this month.As a result, passengers who have to board Punjab Mail from Kotkapura railway station to go to Delhi often miss it.A daily commuter, Ankush Deep, said, “I travel from Fazilka to Muktsar at night. The train never reaches Muktsar railway station on its scheduled time. Mostly, stray animals come on the tracks and train driver has to apply brakes in wait of the track’s clearance.”Last Wednesday, three animals were killed after getting crushed under the wheels of a moving train near Malout. Three days ago, an engine sent from Muktsar to Bariwala covered the distance of 20 minutes in an hour as several animals had blocked the track.Muktsar station master CL Meena said, “Drivers of night trains are having a tough in dealing with stray animals.” He, however, blamed the public for the menace saying throwing garbage near the tracks was the cause of the problem.