Mumbai: Thirty-four unsung heroes who had saved lives of commuters travelling in Mumbai’s local trains in 2018 were presented Rail Hero Awards on Monday.
The event organised by m-Indicator, a transportation related mobile application, in association with Pratibimbh, the annual college festival of Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), saw heroes from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police, and the Maharashtra State Security Force, ticket checkers, motormen, pointsmen and even commuters being honoured.
RPF constable Sonali Pawar saved the life of a mentally-ill woman who was committing suicide at Dadar station. “I saw the woman on the tracks when the train was supposed to arrive. I quickly picked her up. She had attempted suicide multiple times on the same day. I consoled her and informed her husband,” she said.
Chandrakant Sawant, a Western Railway motorman, stopped the train on time averting a mishap after an overbridge collapsed at Andheri station on July 3. “The train had almost reached the station and I saw part of the bridge was about to collapse. So I immediately applied brakes and made announcements asking the passengers in the train to stay calm,” he said.
Rupali Mejari, a constable at Jogeshwari police station, and Prerna Sharma, a college student, were honoured for saving a four-month pregnant woman at Khar station, who fell onto the tracks. “I saw the woman faint on the tracks when I was in the train. I immediately got off to help her. I saw Ms. Sharma running towards her as well. We picked up her up and brought her to the platform before the next train arrived. We later found out that she was pregnant,” Ms. Mejari said. Ms. Sharma said what makes her sad was that there were many people, but none of them stepped forward. “They instead asked us if I was her relative.”
Ishtekar Ahmed, a commuter who saved the life of Pooja Bhosale, a young girl who fell from the moving train while she was standing on the footboard — the video of which went viral on social media — was felicitated.
Ms. Bhosale, a Diva resident, had a fracture to her hand. “The train was reaching Vikhroli from the CSMT and I had warned the girl to be careful since she was standing on footboard despite it not being crowded. While a train from the opposite was in full speed, she fell down. I immediately pulled her up and another commuter helped me save her,” Mr. Ahmed said.
Mahadev Pavne, a constable at Dadar railway station, saved a 65-year-old heart patient who had collapsed on the platform. Mr. Pavne carried the elderly man on his shoulders and rushed him to hospital.
D. B. Kasar, Deputy Inspector General-cum-Chief Security Commissioner, RPF, South Western Railway, and Bhavprita Soni, Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, North Western Railway, were the chief guests. Mr. Kasar said, “I am glad to see these people saving lives of the public without thinking of their own. I am sure there are several similar incidents that have gone unnoticed.”
Ms. Soni said she hopes everyone is inspired by these heroes.
Sachin Teke, founder of m-Indicator, who also happens to be an alumni of VJTI, said, “Felicitating these heroes would not only encourage them but also others to help and save people around them.”
