Careening Off-Track

Railways are a lifeline in India, and that makes the recent spate of mishaps not only cause for raised eyebrows, but a matter of grave concern for every citizen

- RAJEEV NARAYAN

"Accidents happen. It's like a bomb that goes off and flying pieces of shrapnel rip into the flesh of the family. Families need compassion, for everywhere they walk, someone reminds them." - James Belushi

I travelled to Amritsar (from Delhi) for a wedding in early June, days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha Election results. Halfway through the many ceremonies and much merriment that Indian weddings are made up of, there was tittle and tattle around the poll results, with relatives in Delhi frantically calling Amritsar to warn of the possible running amok of goons from losing parties. More than a few who had come from Delhi decided to return on the night of the pheras itself. But the computer (ro)bots manning reservations had other plans, or perhaps Amritsar was hosting a whole lot of weddings that evening and so, except for the first few alarmed baraatis, all others were told that flights to Delhi were sold out.