The Indian Railways is 186 years old and is the world’s fourth largest rail network after the US, China, and Russia. It is by far the most popular and cheapest mode of travel for Indians. It connects the north, south, east, and west divisions, and brings people on a common platform, making no distinction based on their caste, religion, race, or creed.
Families and individuals prefer traveling on trains as it allows them the opportunity to know and bond with others on long and short tours. While the shorter ones last from a few hours to a day on the train, the longer trips can take one 2 to 3 days — long enough to strike friendly conversations with fellow passengers on their journey together. The experience is both fun-filled and enriching.
The longest train route is the Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express. The average time taken to cover the route between Dibrugarh (in Assam) to Kanyakumari (in Tamil Nadu) is 3 days and 7 hours. A trivia fact is that the shortest train ride can be taken from Nagpur to Ajni in Maharashtra, and the 3-kilometer distance is covered in less than 22 minutes. The oldest and the busiest railway station is the Howrah Junction in West Bengal. Some of the popular trains include Vande Bharat Express, Rajdhani Express, Gatiman Express, Shatabdi Express, Duronto Express, Jan Shatabdi, Garib Rath Express, Suvidha Express, Sampark Kranti Express, Humsafar Express and Vivek Express, to name a few.
Now, this is what you do if you are missing your bag either due to theft/dacoity or in case you have left it on the train by mistake.
Lodge Complaint With Station Authorities or File FIR
Unfortunately, the railways are yet to spruce up their security like the airways. This leaves many of us vulnerable to theft, especially when we are carrying valuables worth lakhs of rupees on us. You will follow the same process if you leave behind your belongings in the train compartment by which you were traveling.
The moment you realize that you have been burgled and your items are missing, it makes sense to report it without delay to the ticket checker/station master, or the RPF (Railway Protection Force) on duty. The process would require you to fill out a form with relevant details and a complete description of the items lost with their contents. The Railway Police Force will swing into action to retrieve your things from the next station or the station with the longest stop time.
Remember, however, that things are never as seamless as they theoretically appear. Sometimes passengers have to bear with a lot of inconvenience in the absence of sufficient manpower or authorities to take their complaints and act swiftly. In case of missed luggage, you stand a chance of retrieving things back but much would depend on the swiftness in action by the authorities and concerned search team. Patience is the key. Once they notify you that your belongings are safely kept in the Lost and Found section in the next station, you can arrange transport to take you there in the quickest possible time.
Please retain your travel tickets, PNR, coach, and berth numbers for the pursuit. Through PNR details mobile numbers can be tracked by the railway officials to call and return lost items to their rightful owners in case you have left without claiming your bags.
In case of burglary, however, you will need to lodge an FIR and enlist help from the railway police who are posted in every station.
Fill the Missing Baggage Report
You are understandably distraught when you realize that your bag or bags are missing at the station you disembark, especially when you were carrying valuables. The RPF is usually prompt in dealing with such issues once you log a missing report, but the process is time-taking.
You may make a distress call on 182 and speak to the RPF, or call 1800-111-139 and raise your issue with the officer on the phone. Provide essential details like your PNR number, and contact details with the complaint for them to revert to you with updates.
Alternatively, file your complaints online for prompt action and speedy response. If you are from the western zone or had been traveling to areas in the western zone, then you are in for some luck. The RPF has recently launched ‘Mission Amanat’, which is a novel initiative to reunite passengers with their lost luggage. The RPF clicks photos of lost bags and uploads them routinely on their portal. Complainants have the privilege to check out their website and trace their belongings by clicking on the correct division. If you spot your bags there, you can contact the officer on duty and collect your items from the Lost Property Office by producing valid ownership documents.
Find Help Through Social Media
Social media is a very effective and powerful platform to send out shoutouts. There are innumerable complaints about unanswered phone calls, busy lines, or frustration over being kept on the IVR for long stretches of time. It’s better to resort to social media instead, or you can chat with a railway rep on their WhatsApp chat option, call or send out an SMS on their customer helpline #139.
All private and government-owned bodies are on social media today. It helps to send out an SOS message with complete details on their handles for concerned agents or representatives to get in touch with you. You can send a message on Facebook or write a tweet.
Conclusion
Save yourself and the authorities all the hassles by traveling light with a backpack. If that is not feasible, make sure you carry limited bags, label them suitably, avoid carrying cash and valuables, and be vigilant while traveling and disembarking. Take photos of your baggage to be on the safe side. Keep a watchful eye on the unauthorized entry of vendors and others who enter at random and sleep on the train floors. It doesn’t harm to have your guards up, even if you run the risk of being skeptical.
