NASHIK: A few passengers of the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express were not shielded from the rain even inside the train on Sunday. The leaking roof of the AC coach reserved for the holders of monthly season tickets (MST) meant people had to use umbrellas to stay dry during the entire journey from Nashik to Mumbai on Sunday.
Santosh Shewale, one such passenger, said the water kept dripping from the roof of the C-2 air-conditioned coach. “We have seen something like this, especially in an air-conditioned coach, for the first time. There was a steady drip of water from the coach roof and passengers seated had to use their umbrellas,” he said.
There were two leak points and passengers with seats right under the leaks were distressed throughout the journey. They could not move to other seats as the train was fully occupied. The Panchavati Express is an intercity train between Manmad and Mumbai that passes through Nashik. It is a popular train among commuters from Nashik and finding empty seats on the train is often difficult.
The aggrieved passengers later raised the issue with the railway officials. The officials in Manmad acknowledged the problem. They said the problem is with the electrical duct.
“This complaint was received late on Sunday evening. The coach concerned is in a Panchavati Express rake, which went to Jalna on Sunday evening as Janshatabdi Express. The rake will come back to Manmad on Monday evening and the repairs will then be carried out,” said the officials of the Manmad workshop.
The Panchavati Express is an intercity train between Manmad and Mumbai passing through Nashik. It is a much sought-out train by the commuters from Nashik.
