Residents seek maintenance of Railway land in north Chennai

Five buffaloes were electrocuted on Railway land in Tondiarpet on Tuesday

Residents of neighbourhoods abutting the vast lands owned by the Railways in the north of the city have demanded that the Chennai Corporation address safety concerns following the electrocution of domestic animals that entered the premises.

On Tuesday, five stray buffaloes were electrocuted at the Tondiarpet Marshalling Yard. The animals had stepped into a pool of water in an area where underground cables were allegedly damaged. Even as Railway employees tried to rescue a crippled buffalo, an engine hit it, killing it.

The rotting carcasses remained near the tracks for many hours till Wednesday. Residents pointed to the unhygienic conditions on the premises with dense bushes, rats, snakes and mosquito breeding sources that cause public health problems.

Corporation Councillor S. Santhanan said residents’ appeals to Railway authorities to keep the premises clean have been in vain. “The problem is severe during the monsoon season,” he said.

Residents have requested the Railway Protection Force and Chennai Corporation to prevent stray animals from grazing in the land.

“The Southern Railway is generating huge revenues from the yard. They should also spend some funds for regular maintenance of the facility. This will improve public health conditions in north Chennai neighbourhoods,” said a councillor.