RPF cop saves life of 7-year-old boy at suburban local station in Mumbai

Sunil Napa pulled the boy away from the train after his mother managed to enter a moving train and the child was left hanging outside

A Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable saved the life of a seven-year-old boy from falling into the gap between the platform and the track at Naigaon railway station on Friday night.

For representation (HT FILE)

The boy was trying to board a Churchgate-bound train along with his mother, when the incident took place. At around 2104 hours, the boy got onto platform number 2 along with his mother. The train had started moving and the mother decided to board the second-class general compartment that had come to a stop near the staircase.

While the mother managed to enter the coach, the boy was left hanging outside the train. Sunil Napa, who was on duty, ran towards the boy and pulled him away to the platform, even as the train left the station. The action was captured on the CCTV cameras installed on the platform. The RPF did not reveal the identities of the boy and his mother.

Commuters on the platform also rushed to help Napa. The visibly shaken boy was calmed down, even as his mother who was in the train alighted at Bhayander station and returned to Naigaon. The boy did not sustain any injury, an RPF official said.

The boy and his mother later headed to their home in Mira Road by another train.

RPF officials said Napa’s presence of mind saved the life of the child, who could have slipped into the gap between the platform and the track. Napa was rewarded with an appreciation letter, said Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer, western railway.