Tweets help passengers board 'missed' train

LUCKNOW: Social media came to the rescue of hundreds of stranded passengers on Tuesday after they missed their train due to misinformation by railway authorities.
Kaviguru Express (19709) was scheduled to arrive at 1.55 pm on platform number 1 but due to an operational issue, the train arrived at platform number 3. According to passengers, the change of platforms was not announced by railway officials and passengers kept waiting for the train at platform number 1.As a result, around 150 passengers missed their train.
The irate passengers lodged their complaints on the twitter handle of divisional railway manager (DRM) Alok Kumar Lahoti. Many also reached the station manager's room to complain.
According to Debojit, a passenger, when Lahoti received the tweets of passengers, he issued orders for stoppage of the train at Barabanki and re-tweeted to the complainant to board the train from Barabanki station. A special train was arranged to take all the passengers till Barabanki, from where they got on to Kaviguru Express.
"The DRM stopped the train at Barabanki but it is not easy for aged passengers to run from one station to another. I had a very difficult time," said 72 year-old passenger Rakshanda Shaili.
"It is a big issue because announcement of trains for passengers is as important as the ticket of a passenger for railways. Authorities must look into the matter to avoid such a scenario," said Mahipal Nath Prasad, who had to board the train for New Jalpaiguri.