I don’t usually travel by train. On my friend Namdeo Keluskar’s, I boarded a CST-bound local from Santacruz on Tuesday morning.
I was on my way to an interview with Namdeo. He had referred me for a housekeeping job at his Sandhurst Road office.
We were standing close to the exit of the train. Suddenly I saw a huge flame engulfing the door. Within seconds, I was trapped in the fire. There was smoke everywhere. Commuters who were standing on the footboard were severely injured. I remember hearing people scream loudly.
Fortunately, the incident took place at the station, so people started jumping onto the platform. I also stepped off the train with Namdeo, both of us were burned badly.
We walked out of the station and had started looking for a taxi when a police van saw that we were injured. They ferried us in their van to JJ Hospital.
I was working with a local channel that shut down recently, so I was desperately looking for a new job. Now, I will have stay in the hospital and it will take months for me to get back on my feet.
(As told to Priyanka Vora)