Railways rubbishes social media claim of passengers getting down at outer signal of Badarpur as fake

May 25:  A Facebook post claimed that passengers are getting down at outer signal of Badarpur Railway Station and thereby escaping from getting screened in the station. The particular post soon became viral in Facebook. Many started taking screenshot of the message and also circulated it in WhatsApp thereby resulting in great panic among the people. However, Railways too responded to the claim immediately and rubbished it as unfounded and fake.

Here is the full text of the viral social media post, “Grave negligence on the part of the administration!!! How come train passengers get down at outer signal of Badarpur Station? A big crowd of people carrying luggage was seen escaping the primary check up at Railway Station of Badarpur. The crowd was seen hurrying away through the bylane of Hill Line Colony towards S.T. Road. It has been reported to have taken place at around 6 to 7 PM. Some Arogya Setu app users nearby reported to have received alerts of Corona Positive people nearby. It could turn out to be a fatal mistake. Who is to be blamed? Railway authorities? Local administration? RPF? GRP? DC Karimganj Sir , please look into the matter at the earliest before Badarpur turns out to be containment zone.”

Responding to this claim, S.Umesh, Railway Area Manager, Badarpur wrote a letter on this issue to Anbamuthan MP, Deputy Commissioner of Karimganj. He wrote, “It has come to my notice that certain social media posts are creating panic in Badarpur area by spreading misinformation that a big crowd of COVID positive passengers have gotten down at outer signal of BPB Railway station and avoided screening procedures. It is pertinent to note that there were no passenger trains between 06:00 —07:00 pm today at the station. The last train handled was at 5:13 pm, an outward train from Bishramganj, Tripura to Nawadah, Bihar, point to point service with no boarding or deboarding at Badarpur. I reconfirmed from Inspector RPF that no deboarding has occurred In this train. RPF special forces are escorting the train till its destination.”

Meanwhile, another video clip has also surfaced, wherein some youths are seen running away into the fields from a train. The video was aired by a regional news channel. Taking a strict move, DC Karimganj wrote, “It has come to the notice of District Administration that an unverified video of people getting down from train is being shared on a facebook portal claiming that it is of Karimganj. It is clarified that all precautions are being taken to prevent any such incident in Karimganj. The video shared by the portal is from New Jalpaiguri and not Badarpur Jn. SP, Karimganj has been asked to take strict action against such rumour mongers under the relevant provisions of law.”

S. Umesh also urged upon the Deputy Commissioner of Karimganj to take strict action against people indulging in spreading rumors and creating panic amongst the populace. He added, “Any genuine issue can always be brought to the notice of the undersigned by proper and detailed report through RPF, Commercial staff working 24×7 at the station or through the Circle Officer / Officer in charge, Police. For prompt redressal on part of the railways.”