Alert motorman halts train in time, saves girl walking on tracks

An alert Western Railway motorman saved the life of a teenaged schoolgirl, who was reported missing, on Saturday night.

An alert Western Railway motorman saved the life of a teenaged schoolgirl, who was reported missing, on Saturday night.

After spotting a girl walking on the railway tracks, the motorman halted a speeding train that stopped it a few meters from her.(HT File Photo)

After spotting a girl walking on the railway tracks between Dadar and Elphinston Road stations, the motorman halted a speeding train that stopped it a few meters from her.

The incident took place around 9.55pm on Saturday when Munesh Kumar Kulshreshta, an experienced motorman, was on the wheels of a Churchgate-bound Borivali slow train.

After spotting the girl, Kulshreshta first blew the hooter in a bid to alert her. But when the girl continued to walk on the tracks, he applied brakes to control the train.

According to railway sources, after the train halted, Kulshreshta got off the train and escorted the girl, who was wearing a school uniform and carrying a school bag, to an on-duty constable in the ladies compartment.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old was reported missing after she did not come home from school on Saturday.

“The girl’s father approached us when she was untraceable till night. As she is a minor, we registered a case of kidnapping. She has been reunited with her family after she was rescued,” said a police officer from Antop Hill police station.

Sources said the girl was handed over to the police after the train reached Churchgate. Kulshreshta has submitted a brief report on the incident.

AW R spokesperson confirmed the incident, while Western Railway Motorman Association and several of Kulshreshta’s colleagues have lauded his alertness.