AC fails on Patna–Tata Vande Bharat Express, Travel Turns Torturous

 Jamshedpur

Passengers travelling in the Executive Class coach of the Patna–Tata Vande Bharat Express faced severe discomfort after the air conditioning system broke down during the journey on Saturday. With temperatures soaring, commuters were left sweating profusely, triggering frustration and anger among those onboard.

Repeated Complaints Yield No Immediate Relief

Affected passengers lodged multiple complaints through the railway helpline number and informed the onboard Ticket Examiner (TTE) and public address system. Despite repeated alerts, no prompt resolution was provided. Some passengers also took to the social media platform X to highlight the issue.

Responding online, a senior official from the Chakradharpur Railway Division stated that technical teams were working to fix the problem. However, passengers claimed that the issue persisted for several hours without satisfactory action.

Partial Cooling, Unequal Relief Inside Coach

Passengers Sarita Devi and Rasha Khan reported that while one section of the coach had functional air conditioning, the other half remained completely without cooling since departure from Patna. This uneven distribution of comfort further aggravated tensions among travellers.

Protest at Bokaro Station
Frustrated by the lack of resolution, passengers staged a protest when the train reached Bokaro station. Railway staff attempted to manage the situation by reassigning seats to some passengers, but the overall discomfort continued.

Partial Repairs at Muri, Problem Persists
The train was later halted at Muri station, where technical staff carried out partial repairs to the AC system. Despite these efforts, the issue could not be fully resolved, leaving many passengers dissatisfied for the remainder of the journey.

Passengers Demand Refunds
Angry passengers demanded a full or partial refund of their ticket fares, arguing that despite paying premium charges for Executive Class travel, they were deprived of basic amenities such as proper air conditioning.

Recurring Complaints Haunt Vande Bharat Service
The incident adds to a growing list of complaints linked to the Patna–Tata Vande Bharat Express. In a previous case, railway authorities had imposed a hefty fine of ₹60 lakh over the serving of substandard curd. Complaints regarding food quality and onboard services have continued to surface, raising concerns over service standards on the premium train route.