Elderly man’s nose bitten by rat in train’s 1st class AC coach

Elderly man’s nose bitten by rat in train’s 1st class AC coach 

25.08.2026

Indore: A 78-year-old passenger travelling in the first-class AC coach of the Una Himachal Express (19308) was bitten on the nose by a rat during his journey from Chandigarh to Indore on August 22. The passenger, HP Karan, a retired government employee travelling with his family, sustained a bleeding wound to his nose following the rodent bite. After the matter was flagged to the Railways, medical personnel boarded the train at a subsequent stop to administer first aid and medication. 

Upon arrival in Indore, Karan, who belongs to the city, was taken to a local hospital, where doctors administered an anti-rabies vaccine as a precautionary measure. The family said that they had earlier notified coach attendants regarding the presence of rodents and poor cleanliness inside the compartment. The family alleged that effective rodent-control measures were not deployed on board. The railway officials claimed that standard rodent and pest control procedures were executed before the rake was dispatched from Indore on its outward journey. 

“We have initiated an inquiry to determine how the rodent entered the sealed compartment on the return leg” Ratlam division public relations officer Mukesh Kumar said, adding that medical attention was provided immediately upon instructions from the ministry. “The train originates from Indore, where all coaches undergo mandatory maintenance, cleaning, and pest control protocols before departure,” Kumar said. “No rodent complaints were lodged during the journey from Indore to Himachal. Because first AC coaches are sealed environments, the rodent likely entered while doors or cabin windows were left open during a scheduled halt along the return route,” the PRO added.