On April 18, 2024, the consumer disputes redressal forum in Balangir district, Odisha, ordered Indian Railways to compensate Chandi Prasad Khamari ₹1.3 lakh (approximately $1,560 USD) after he missed a connecting flight due to a significant train delay. Khamari had booked tickets for train No. 12129 from Jharsuguda to Howrah, which was scheduled to depart at 7:50 PM and arrive at 3:55 AM, allowing a buffer for his 8:05 AM flight to Guwahati. However, the train departed two hours late and arrived nearly seven hours behind schedule, leading to his missed flight and additional expenses. The consumer forum found the railways liable for 'deficiency in service' as they failed to demonstrate that the delays were unavoidable. The total compensation included ₹20,000 for flight rebooking, ₹30,000 for mental distress, and ₹5,000 for litigation costs. After the railways did not comply with the order within 30 days, penalties of ₹500 per day accumulated, raising the total to ₹1.3 lakh. The forum highlighted the importance of timely service in public utility sectors, emphasizing that passengers expect punctuality in their travel plans.