Railway Rules: Indian Railways takes full care of the necessary facilities for the safe and comfortable travel of its passengers. Crores of people also travel by trains every day. In such a situation, many times your purse, mobile or any luggage gets left behind in the train.
But have you ever wondered what the Railways does with these valuables left behind in trains? Do you know that if you have left any of your important items in the train, you can get it back very easily. Railways (Indian Railway Rules) has made proper rules to deliver these items left in the train to its owner. Let us know everything about this.
The train is checked after the journey
After arrival of any train at its final destination station, empty carriages are carefully checked by the station staff along with a representative of the Railway Protection Force to ensure that no passenger property is left behind. If any such item is found, it is deposited with the Station Master.
A receipt is made and submitted to the Station Master for all lost, unclaimed or unbooked items found in the train, at the station or in the line.
Lost luggage is deposited with the station master.
All articles found or handed over to Railway Employees in the train or at the station are recorded in the Register of Lost Property with details like mask, weight, estimated value (if traceable). etc. are recorded separately.
If any box or trunk is found lost, a list of the items present in that trunk is made in the presence of an officer of the Railway Protection Force or Railway Police. Three copies of it are made, one of which should be in the register of lost goods, the second in the same box and the third with the Railway Protection Force. After which this box is sealed.
This is the process of returning goods
If a person makes a claim for lost property and the Station Master is satisfied that the item belongs to that person, he may return the item to him. The full address of the claimant should be entered in the register of lost property and his signature should also be obtained as a token of receipt of the item.
Along with this, Indian Railways believes that the station master himself should make every possible effort to return the lost property to its rightful owner. This effort includes locating the real owner of those properties from clues obtained from them.
The station master has this responsibility
If the station has doubts about the claimant being the real owner of the lost property, the matter is referred to the Divisional Commercial Superintendent. Where the goods are returned only after the matter is thoroughly investigated.
Is there any charge to be paid?
In cases where luggage is returned to the passengers without sending it to the Lost Property Office after being lost or abandoned at the station, Indian Railways does not charge any fee from the passengers.
Such packages should be returned to the passengers without charging any fee. After any item is lost or left behind, the Station Master keeps it under his supervision for seven days. After which it is sent to the Lost Property Office.
