RAHIM YAR KHAN: Some passengers of Peshwar-bound Jaffar Express had a terrible journey from Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore on Dec 7 due to the presence of large rodents in the AC standard coach.

Muhammad Saleem who travelled from RYK to Lahore told this correspondent when he opened his berth, a large rodent jumped and disappeared under the lower berth.

“I have never seen such a big rat in my life,” he said.

Saleem’s initial thought there was only one rat in his coach proved wrong when a woman from the adjacent cabin, coming from Quetta along with her three children, said there were more than six big rats in her cabin and they could not sleep due to fear of bite.

Another family in the centre of the coach was also having a terrible time and could not sleep the whole night.

Saleem said when he complained to the conductor guard and railway policeman on duty, they advised him to register the complaint in the railway book.

Saleem also shared with this correspondent a footage of the rats wandering in his coach.

Saleem was shocked again when he returned to RYK on Dec 9 by Awam Express (Ticket number 44919966477985) as there were more than seven large rats in that AC standard coach.

He said when he opened his basket for dinner, a rat was already enjoying the meal. He said Karachi-bound passenger Zeeshan who had his dinner in the same coach complained of food poisoning in the morning. He cut short his journey in RY Khan where Saleem accompanied him to the Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Pakistan Railways Director Public Relations at headquarters Quratul Ain said the divisional commercial officer where the train originated could only give the official version on this story. She promised to share the contact number of the DCO but could not.

The passengers who frequently travel by rail say one can see large rodents at the Lahore railway station platforms wandering in search of leftover food.

In a letter to the editor (The News) on Sept 19, 2017, Dr Humayun Bashir said he boarded the Shah Shamas night train from Lahore to Multan along with his family.

“We were shocked to find, mid-way through the journey, rats in the parlour car. The rodents would appear every now and then in the windowpanes and the air-conditioning ducts. A steward on board confirmed that carriage indeed had its fair share of rats but said they would cause no harm to passengers. After reaching Multan, I got cancelled the return ticket to Lahore. It is unlikely that I will ever take this train again.”

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2018