Indian Railways slams reports of mistreating Indian Women Hockey team

Refuting reports that Indian Olympians were made to sit on the floor while they were travelling from Ranchi to Rourkela via Bokaro-Allepey Express train, the Indian Railways on Monday asserted that the travelling hockey players hold no grudge against them.

"The news reports about Women's hockey team, after their return from Rio Olympics being forced to sit on the floor while they were travelling from Ranchi to Rourkela via Bokaro-Allepey Express train is completely false. Also the information that of the TTE asked them to sit on the floor of the bogey of the train is untrue," the statement said.

The Railway Ministry said the Hockey players, on reaching the Ranchi airport went to the station and took the train without any information to the Indian Railways, who would be in a better position to make appropriate arrangements for the players.

"However, when the players boarded the train with unconfirmed tickets, the TTE took only 20 minutes to make seats available to them," the statement added.

The statement further added that the Hockey players hold no grudge against the Indian Railways and the same was communicated by them to the Indian Railways authorities.

"They also said that the players were in a hurry to meet their family members and hence preponed the plan which led to the confusion," said the statement.