Rats! There's a roach in my coach

MUMBAI: When P Smita (name changed on request) was travelling from Mumbai to her home town Kerala by the Netravati Express a few days ago, she had a horrifying time. The advertisingexecutive from Kandivli said that even when she was asleep, she could hear andfeel the cockroaches and rats around her. "We couldn't even eat; the rodentswere all around. If this is the condition in a 3-AC coach I shudder to thinkwhat other coaches would be like," she said. Smitha said that the rats even atea 'puri-sized' hole into one of her bags. On the return journey, Smita and herfellow passengers called the TC, who told them to file a complaint."Only, he wasn't carrying the book with him," Smita said. "Theattendant told us that pest control had been carried out 15 days ago. But eventhe garbage bins were overflowing. We had to shut the door so that the rodentsdidn't come in."Rats and cockroaches are a common sight on suburbanas well as long-distance trains. A Kalyan resident said, "There were huge ratsin the compartment while I was on my way to Bangalore. We complained to thestaff, but they took 45 minutes to come. We finally had to chase them awayourselves."Chief PRO, Central Railway, VA Malgaonkar said regularcleaning of rakes happens during its primary maintenance which can range betweenevery day and once a week. "The main source of rats is suspected to be thepantry car. Two months ago, CR did an extensive anti-rodent drive and cleanedall pantry cars. Anti-rodent drives are also done regularly. At stationsnominate as clean train stations on board cleaning takes place in the washbasins and the toilets," he said. After several complaints aboutrodents on several WR trains, including the Rajdhani, rat traps were put ontrains. "The problem is nearly eliminated now and complaints are not that major.Pest control happens at yards, however rodents sometimes get on the train enroute. Trains are also cleaned after each trip," chief PRO, WR, SharatChandrayan said.