Indian Railway: Passenger awarded compensation of Rs 25,000 by a consumer forum

A passenger was bitten by a rat while traveling in a train was today awarded a compensation of Rs 25,000 by a consumer forum which also directed the railways to pay an additional Rs 2,000 towards medical expenses. District Consumer Forum president R V Dheenadayalan and member S Rajalakshmi awarded the compensation to a passenger Venkatachalam for the mental agony suffered by him.

They directed the railways to pay an additional Rs 2,000 for medical expenses incurred by him and Rs 5,000 toward the cost of the litigation.

The railways should pay the amount within three months, failing which the compensation would carry nine percent interest, the forum said in its order. Venkatachalam submitted that he was traveling to Chennai by train on August 8, 2014, when he was bitten by a rat.

He said the traveling ticket examiner was indifferent when he showed him the injury and bleeding caused by rat-bite and could not get even arrange for first aid. The TTE suggested that treatment could be given only at the next station. Finally, the passenger got down at Egmore station in Chennai lodged a complaint and then took treatment at a private hospital. Later, he was admitted to the government hospital for further treatment.

He sought compensation for the mental agony suffered by him due to rat-bite in the train.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)