Only two couples sign up for 'Karwa Chauth' train, special service to be cancelled
New Delhi: The idea was to rekindle romance in marriage on a train journey through the deserts of Rajasthan but the Indian Railways plan for a special 'Karwa Chauth' train service came a cropper with only two couples signing up, sources said.
The result: the Majestic Rajasthan Deluxe, which was launched to provide a 'dream holiday' to couples for a five-day tour of the state, stands cancelled, officials said.
They said only two couples booked tickets on the train which has 78 seats.
Only married couples were allowed on the train, which came with special touches like a shower cubicle and a foot massage, although the IRCTC had made special arrangements for children, the officials said.
The train, part of the Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation's (IRCTC) promotional offers, was to depart from the Safdarjung station in Delhi on October 14 and visit historical sites in Rajasthan like Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon ki Haveli, Gadisar Lake, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Amber Fort and City Palace till October 18.
"Only two couples have booked tickets on it so it is as good as cancelled. We cannot run a train like this without occupancy," a senior official said.
In its promotional message, the IRCTC said, "This Karwa Chauth, give your wife a special gift which she will remember for ages."
Officials said the low turnout could be because of the high fares -- Rs 1,02,960 per couple in AC first tier and Rs 90,090 per couple in AC 2 Tier.
Facilities included a personal digital locker, shower cubicle, foot massage and a seating area with single-seater sofas. Passengers were assured free insurance worth Rs 10 lakh each.
The source said the fares of the two couples will be refunded. The festival of Karwa Chauth, in which a wife fasts through the day till moonrise for her husband's long life, falls on October 17.
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NIA court to complete framing of charges against 2010 hand-chopping case accused on May 15
Kochi (PTI): A special court here will complete proceedings for framing charges against the prime accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph, in which PFI activists were accused of attacking him at Muvattupuzha.
Ernakulam Special Court for NIA cases judge P K Mohandas, on April 30, heard the arguments of counsel for accused Savad and Shafeer C and decided to proceed with framing charges against the duo.
A group chopped off Thodupuzha Newman College professor Joseph's right hand in July 2010, accusing him of religious blasphemy in a question paper he had prepared.
The case, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), resulted in the conviction of 19 accused.
The first accused, Savad, who allegedly chopped off Joseph’s palm, was arrested in Berram in Mattannur, Kannur, in January 2024, where he had allegedly been hiding under the pseudonym Shajahan.
The NIA also arrested Shafeer, who allegedly arranged shelter and provided logistical support to Savad at Chakkad and Mattannur in Kannur since 2020.
On April 30, the court heard the counsel for the accused and the NIA prosecutor on framing charges against the duo.
"On going through the documents and evidence in the case and on hearing the counsel for the accused and the prosecutor, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that the first accused has committed offences punishable under provisions of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and that the second accused has committed offences punishable under the IPC and the UAPA, and there are materials for framing charges under these provisions against the accused," the court said.
The court directed that Savad be produced and Shafeer, who is on bail, appear before it on May 15 for recording their pleas as part of the charge-framing process.
After framing the charges, the court will schedule the trial in the case.
