Rail commuters have for years complained about rats on board. On Friday night, a rodent bit the hand of P. Venkatachalam, Salem district organiser of Pasumai Thayagam, aboard Salem–Egmore Express.
He was travelling to Chennai with a friend. They were allotted seats 17 and 20 in S6 compartment. Mr. Venkatachalam had kept his bags beneath the lower berth. Around 10.30 p.m. on Friday, when the train was nearing Athur, he tried to pull the luggage out. “The rat bit my right hand. With my left hand I tried to catch it, but it gnawed at that hand too,” said Mr. Venkatachalam.
He managed to squeeze it to death, but the wound was bleeding. “I also called the GRP helpline and requested help. They assured me of first-aid once the train reached Virudachalam,” he said. But, there was no sign of help when the train arrived. He called the helpline again and a constable took him to the station master and a complaint was lodged. “No first-aid was administered. After reaching Chennai, I took treatment from a doctor in T. Nagar,” he alleged.
The GRP helpline staff said Mr. Venkatachalam had been provided first aid.
