Title - Civic administration responded late: Rail accident victims’ kin

Two days after two men were rushed to hospital with serious injuries after colliding with one another while hanging from the door of two suburban local trains going in opposite directions near the Nahur station, the relatives of both victims criticised the “poor pace” of the administration's response and the inadequate medical facilities at the station. Daulat Shirsunder (22) and Sagar More (23) were taken to Fortis Hospital, Mulund, after the accident occurred around 9 pm on Friday. They are both in the ICU of Fortis Hospital but are out of danger, said doctors. Shirsunder, who was to be married on May 3, would probably still be in hospital then, his relatives said.

“There was no home guard or even stretchers to take them out. Thanks to their fellow passengers and the doctors, both received timely help,” said Babu Shirsunder, the uncle of Daulat.

The Central Railway (CR) has agreed to bear the medical costs of both victims but insisted that the accident cannot be blamed on the railways. Both victims remain under observation of doctors owing to fractures all over the body. While Daulat required at least 30-35 stitches across his face and hands while Sagar has stitches and injuries on skull, face and several other parts of the body.

CR public relations officer Vidyadhar Malegaonkar said, “The accident was not caused due to the negligence of the Railways. Also, in this case, the victim's kin took them to the hospital."

The victims were traveling on the footboards of two overcrowded parallel trains when the accident occurred. While Sagar, a student of Vikas College in Vikhroli, was returning from his friend's house, Daulat had gone with his uncle to distribute invitation cards for his wedding scheduled for May 3.