When D. Raja Sudhakar, branch manager of United India Insurance in Vijayawada boarded Tamil Nadu Express (12622) bound for Chennai, at 1 a.m., all he was hoping for, was a decent nap.
But that was not to be. Mr. Sudhakar was woken by a loud noise and the voices of people. The S11 coach by which he was travelling was engulfed in smoke and he said he spotted flames in the electrical panel near berth no. 72. Some people had pulled the emergency chain to stop the train and were trying to open the doors, but they were jammed, he said.
Mr. Sudhakar was in berth no. 7 and rushed to the nearby entrance and pulled the chain. By the time he managed to pry open the door, the train had stopped. Some passengers rushed out and a few tried to help the others. “We did not think of the emergency exit. Whoever was awake escaped. Some were sleeping on the second and third berths. They died in that position,” said Mr. Sudhakar, who was clad in navy blue tracks, a tee-shirt and blue socks.
“There may have been at least 70 or more people as several passengers were travelling in the compartment without reservation. I was sitting on the side berth and there was another man sitting next to me. I managed to save 20 people. An elderly couple was travelling with their daughter. I pulled them out of the train but I could not save their 18-year-old daughter as it became very hot and was full of smoke. They were going to admit their daughter in college,” he said.
He jumped out of the coach when the heat became intense, he said. “Within 20 minutes the entire coach was burnt. The rescue team came only after 45 minutes but a visit by the Nellore collector and superintendent of police helped,” he added.
Even as he was rescuing co-passengers in Andhra Pradesh, some local channels ran a scroll declaring him dead. “Some of them said I was alive,” he said with a smile. “I called my family and told them I was alive.” His colleague T. Lakshmana Sekar was at the station in Chennai to receive him when the train arrived at 11.15 a.m.
Keywords: Tamil Nadu Express, train accident, Nellore railway station, Nellore train mishap, TN Express fire
Thanks Sir. You are an example for humanity. May the soul of the dead rest in peace.
Salute the brave Mr Sudhakar
Good to hear this Sir..
May be 100 in S11, I belive the count 300 in every general bogi.
The government,Railway minister actions seems this is the the wake up call.How many wake up calls they need....
Boss evvery wakeup call taking hundereds of life
good job Mr. Sudhakar. A real hero.
Hatsoff to this brave gentelman.
Mr Sudhakar deserves a bravery award. His statement should be recorded
regarding unauthorised entrants in the reserved coaches which has reached
alarming proportions. Virtually the railway administration has turned a blind eye to
this issue for the past several years and I have noticed during my several journeys.
The reason is insufficient TTE and other responsible staff. The government seems
to be dithering as to how to run the behomoth economicly,efficiently,profitably
and above all safely at the cost of precious lives lost in every accident. This should
be the wake up call.
Mr. Sudhakar became a role model for many youngsters.....Hats Off to his great & values deeds that not very easy to risk his own life to save others
You simply proved you are human. May God Bless.
thats a brave effort by sudhakar sir.
Well done Mr. Sudhakar. A real hero.
Why not we get rid of sleeper coaches, number of dead is more especially in night trains in any type of accidents.
Saving a life is not easier and for that, one need humanity,
braveness,... You had done that by saving more than one. Good to hear
this Sir..
Service before self , the motto comes to mind on hearing of mr. Sudhakar's self less service in pitch darkness . In a country fraught with corrupt politicians , mr sudhakar's deeds bring a fresh ray of hope well done mr sudhakar , for saving lives on the illfated coach S11
Thank you D. Raja Sudhakar for saving so many lives and showing your presence of mind.
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