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Ayyappa devotees proceeding to Sabarimala staged a demonstration at the Erode Railway Station on Monday protesting against the shortage of water in several coaches of the Tatanagar-Alappuzha Express, in which they were travelling.
Apathy:More than 400 devotees got out of the train immediately after its arrival at the station at 10.20 a.m. and staged a demonstration on the platform protesting against the apathy of the railway administration in ensuring adequate supply of water to the travelling public.They claimed that a majority of the coaches including unreserved compartments did not have water. We have been asking the officials at various railway stations to re-fill the water tanks in the coaches. But no efforts were taken up in this regard, devotees claimed.The railway administration was aware of the heavy rush in the trains during Sabarimala season. But still, it had failed to make necessary arrangements. Hundreds of passengers were forced to travel for hours in the train without water. The toilets were stinking and we could not bear the foul smell, devotees complained.When the devotees were complaining to the authorities, the train prepared to leave the station. Annoyed, a few devotees got into the coaches and pulled the emergency chain to bring the train to a halt.The authorities pacified the devotees and instructed the workers to fill all the water tanks in the coaches. The train left the station around 11.15 a.m. A few trains were delayed due to this protest.