Property worth Rs 7cr damaged at Secunderabad railway station

HYDERABAD: The agitation by army job-seekers at Secunderabad railway station has put a hole in the government's pocket. Secunderabad Divisional Railway Manager A K Gupta clarified on Friday that there was a loss of property worth over Rs 7 crore.

Five trains were set on fire and 30 coaches were damaged by the agitators, he said. The parcel office at the station was completely destroyed. As many as 18 express, nine passenger trains and 65 MMTS trains had been cancelled in the wake of protests.

Apart from this, 15 trains had also been partially cancelled. Eight trains had been diverted. Steps were taken to restore the train services, said the DRM.

Platform number 2 to 7 destroyed

The DRM said that the coaches of the trains suffered heavy damage. Stalls and water coolers on the platforms were also damaged. The protesters vandalised and smashed several stalls and CC cameras, etc , on platform numbers 2 to 7.

As of now, there was no damage to signaling, tracks and electricity connections.

East Coast, Ajanta and Rajkot Express trains, three coaches, including two parcel vans, were gutted in the fire, 20 two-wheelers in parcel vans were also burnt down.

No harm to passengers and crew

At least four train coaches were set on fire and windows of more than 30 coaches were also smashed, seats were destroyed, 8 train engines damaged, escalators, lights and fans were damaged to a large extent. The total estimation of the loss was pegged at Rs 6-7 crore. "We were shocked to see thousands of people coming to the railway station and vandalizing property," DRM A K Gupta said.