Special awareness drive by East Coast Rly for Rath Jatra

Ahead of Lord Jagannth's annual Rath Jatra on July 4, the East Coast Railway has launched a special awareness drive for travelling passengers in overcrowded trains. Railway administration has urged the passengers to avoid journey on footboard, buffers and rooftop of the train compartments for their own safety.

"Passengers are requested not to take food and drinking items from strangers, not to carry inflammable items like gas cylinder, stoves, debris, even cigarettes and match boxes, not to touch suspicious items like tiffin box, baggage without owner," the ECoR said in its appeal to passengers. It also suggested the passengers to avoid train journey without or with improper tickets and not to lean from train compartments of the running trains and not to alight or get down when the train is in motion.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) will take special measures in controlling crowd and will keep a watch on touts and anti-socials particularly in crowded areas like booking and enquiry counters, tourist complex and Mela Shed, it said. Keeping in view the Rath Jatra, the ECoR has arranged for several amenities such as special trains, extra ticket and enquiry counters, catering & drinking water, sanitation and medical assistance booth..