Mumbai commuters’ tweets, prompt railway officials save life of man who falls off crowded train
The first tweet for help went out at 9.04am, and by 9.18am, officials at Kalwa had located the passenger, who has survived the accident
A series of tweets, and quick response by Mumbai’s Central Railway (CR) officials, saved the life of a commuter who fell off an overcrowded local train near Kalwa on Tuesday.
During the morning rush hour, a 39-year-old commuter, whose name has not been disclosed, fell off a packed Dadar-bound train near the level crossing gate at Kalwa. Passengers on the train who saw him fall tweeted about the accident immediately to the railway ministry’s official Twitter account, which triggered a prompt response.
At 9.04 am @Parsikpravasi tweeted: “Just now one commuter fell off from Dadar local at Kharigaon Fatak shifting to Thane station. Plz help @RailMinIndia @PiyushGoyal @rpfcr.”
The tweet was sent to two Twitter handles, both of which, in turn, requested for immediate medical help.
@MumRail tweeted: “@drmmumbaicr it’s SOS situation plz treat it as urgent. Question of Life & Death @Dev_Fadnavis.”
The ministry’s account responded immediately, and at 9.12 am, directed the Twitter handle of the CR’s Divisional Railway Manager to take action. At 9.15 am, the Railway Protection Force personnel and the clerk in charge at Kalwa station were informed about the accident and instructed to help.
Ahir Rao, deputy clerk in charge, and railway security personnel rushed to the spot and by 9.18 am, they found the injured commuter and took him to a nearby hospital. As a result of the prompt action, the commuter survived, though he has sustained injuries on his head and legs.
Later, both Twitter accounts that had tweeted for help appreciated the CR’s quick response. @MumRail tweeted: “Issue resolve by@drmmumbaicr. They helped to save one life. Thank you! Keep doing the great job.” @Parsikpravasi tweeted: “God Bless you @RailMinIndia @drmmumbaicr @rpfcr ! @PiyushGoyal Thank you Team @TwitterIndia within few minutes response @narendramodi_in.”
The CR has now decided to give their deputy clerk Rao an award for saving the passenger’s life. “It was immediate action on the part of the official that saved a life. We will award Rao, who responded immediately, reached the spot and helped save the commuter’s life,” said SK Jain, divisional railway manager, CR.