[Thermodynamics]

4 Train Passengers On Kerala Express Die Due To Heat In Jhansi according to this report.

Jhansi: Four passengers on the Kerala Express have died in Jhansi due to extreme heat while one passenger has been hospitalised in a critical condition, the passengers travelling on the Kerala Express train on Monday evening complained of uneasiness and by the time the train reached Jhansi, they had expired.

The dead bodies were taken off at Jhansi railway station and sent for post mortem. All the passengers were travelling from Agra to Coimbatore and were seated in S-8 and S-9 coaches. Divisional Railway Manager Neeraj Ambisht said that the bodies would be sent to Coimbatore on Tuesday after post mortem.

The deceased were a part of a 68-member group that was returning after visiting Varanasi and Agra. "Shortly after we left Agra, the heat became unbearable and some people started complaining of breathing problems and uneasiness. Before we could get some help, they collapsed," said a member of the group.

Unfortunately our cattle class coaches are not air-conditioned, the worst part is they are not even insulated.

May the souls rest in peace, they have literally bought tickets of their final journey.

[condor]

Originally Posted by Thermodynamics

Unfortunately our cattle class coaches are not air-conditioned, the worst part is they are not even insulated.

Not the air-conditioning, but over-crowding leading to lack of ventilation. During day time, even SL class bogies are crowded with local / short distance passengers. The overcrowding contributed by such passengers would have caused discomfort to the deceased passengers. It is not just the general bogies that see over-crowding.

[paragsachania]

Really pains to even imagine this incident. At one point we see the Railway stations installing jet sprays (Nagpur) at the platforms so that passengers can beat the heat, on the other hand we have the regular Non-AC coaches in which passengers have to travel bearing the heat from the roof and the heat waves rushing through the windows! What a depressing news this.

I am even imagining the working conditions of the Loco Pilots who also have to bear oven like conditions inside the cabins.

[condor]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I am even imagining the working conditions of the Loco Pilots who also have to bear oven like conditions inside the cabins.

Diesel loco's should not be that much of a problem - the windows are open to let is sufficient air. Steam loco's would have been a different story, but those arent around much now to be considered here

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by condor

Not the air-conditioning, but over-crowding leading to lack of ventilation. During day time, even SL class bogies are crowded with local / short distance passengers.

SL class need seat reservation, right? How does it gets overcrowded?

[Amit_breakfree]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

SL class need seat reservation, right? How does it gets overcrowded?

It needs reservation but no one follows it, especially in the Northern states. Even if the TT comes, people just keep moving from one coach to another till the time they reach their destination.

Leave alone the Sleeper class, I have seen this first hand in AC 3 tier coaches when I was young. I don't know how much has changed but my gut says it will largely be the same.

People just enter the cabin and ask you to move so that they can sit. If you say that it's reserved, they will just say that they are going to disembark at the next station. In some cases they make you so uncomfortable that you have to give them space.

R.I.P to the lost souls.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by condor

Diesel loco's should not be that much of a problem - the windows are open to let is sufficient air. Steam loco's would have been a different story, but those arent around much now to be considered here

Not just about crowd but in general we have known how fatal heatwaves are and things are becoming unbearably hot over the years and my statement comes from that aspect; the working conditions are not hunky dory for these jobs.

[condor]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

SL class need seat reservation, right? How does it gets overcrowded?

Day time, you can see people sitting on the upper berths. And many in the doors etc. It is only at night that the ticketing is stricter. Classic example - Bombay-Pune trains.

[silverado]

All the passengers were 70+ and coming from South India on a trip to Dry northern part at time when heatwave is at peak.

Dry heat must have been unbearable for them.

[V.Narayan]

Can the experts opine on how much actual cost does air conditioning add to a passenger railway operation. Considering that there are so many factor inputs that make up the total fully loaded cost of rail operation it seems the extra energy cost of air-conditioning 15 passenger carriages seems minor in comparison. If our railways had been privatised would open air carriages still be in use.

While this may not be a popular statement to make but the arrangement of our railway carriages is a reflection of a fuedal outlook - air-con for the better off and natural ventilation for the hoi-polloi.

My prayers for the unfortunate deceased.

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

If our railways had been privatised would open air carriages still be in use.

I still see private buses that are over crowded and without AC all the time on the village routes. I have to talk my parents into taking the AC buses, when they consider non ac buses to get a better price.

I feel money would be better spent if they can enforce some measures to prevent overcrowding, and allow the fans to provide better airflow.

[ani_meher]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Can the experts opine on how much actual cost does air conditioning add to a passenger railway operation.

The difference between AC and non-AC class is significant, it costs some 3-4 times more than sleeper coach for for third AC. So economically challenged will always prefer SL class.

But AC coaches get filled very fast and people may be forced to travel in sleeper because of predefined itinerary.

[avingodb]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

SL class need seat reservation, right? How does it gets overcrowded?

Between Agra and Bhopal, its locals who rule the sleeper coaches. They would ask if you want to take the upper berth they would sit down or climb up otherwise. Express Trains become locals in MP and even TTEs have no jurisdiction.

Also, it's a lesson to avoid North India from late May to late June. You can manage April May easily there but in June weather is a different kind of beast in Delhi and around.

[kiku007]

https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...?homepage=true

"A fifth member from the group, Kaladevi, 58, passed away before the group boarded the Kerala Express bound for Thiruvananthapuram at Agra."

"According to officials of Jhansi Division of the North Central Railway, an emergency call was made to the Jhansi Junction that four persons had “fainted” in the S8 and S9 coaches. Immediately, a railway medical specialist was kept in readiness."

"According to the Jhansi Division Public Relations Officer, the train left New Delhi at 11.25 a.m. on Monday and reached Agra Cantonment at 2.05 p.m.

However, on hearing that the passengers were having health problems, the train, which had a travel time of 210 minutes and should have reached Jhansi at 5.40 p.m., reached almost an hour ahead. Regarding the cause of death, the PRO said the post mortem report is yet to be released."

Unfortunate. I think the Railways did what they can do in their limited capacity.

Tour operators should take extra care when planning trips with senior people.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by kiku007

Unfortunate. I think the Railways did what they can do in their limited capacity.

Tour operators should take extra care when planning trips with senior people.

Thanks. This is the crux of the matter. These travelers most likely had little idea about weather conditions in the North in June of all the months - not just the dry heat but also the loo {afternoon hot winds} that prevail and the precautions to be taken. It is like offering a unwary group of older travelers from Kerala a trip to Gulmarg in January. The weather is bound to get you.