LUCKNOW: In a bizarre incident, a goods wagon that started from Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam in 2014 reached Uttar Pradesh’s Basti in 2018. What’s more, the Railways have no clue how it happened.
The incident came to light when the wagon carrying fertilizers worth 10 lakh reached its destination on Wednesday, covering a distance of 1,400 km in four years. It is believed the wagon attached to the freight train from Vishakhapatnam went missing.
According to sources, Indian Potash Company had booked wagon #107462, loaded with a consignment of fertilizer from Vishakhapatnam port in the name of M/S Ramchandra Gupta of Basti. As the wagon did not reach the destination even after months, Gupta lodged a complaint with the Railways. This triggered an exchange of letters between the Railways and the Basti businessman. Ultimately, when the Railways failed to trace the wagon, Gupta gave up and stopped enquiring about it.
When the wagon reached Basti on Wednesday, a furious Gupta refused to receive the consignment saying it was of no use. Slamming the Railways for its callousness which resulted in a huge loss to him, Gupta is now seeking compensation.
The railway officials, meanwhile, are trying to find out where the wagon had been all along. According to Sanjay Yadav, CPRO, Northeastern Railway, wagons are sometimes detached from freight trains owing to technical snags. “Probably, this wagon also met the same fate... Responsibility will be fixed. Those found guilty of this laxity will be punished,” he added.