I love traveling by train. I like seeing the world pass by, as I travel in what I state the fastest means of transport in Mumbai today. It sort of transforms me in this void, where my brain accelerates and most of my work thought takes place in 30 minutes of traveling.

I almost also get a little petrified while im at the station trying to get into the platform where my train is to arrive. When I catch my train from Churchgate in the morning, the way people are rushing to get out is one sight. If they were given an axe, or sword in their hand it would surely look like war was on, and people were charging towards you. By the time i reach Bandra, it is much more calm.

Today i was climbing down the bridge that leads to platform no 1. I was busy on the phone then, when i saw a man walking towards the end of the platform, i assumed he would climb up the bridge, some how he didnt, and tried to get down next to the tracks to cross. Before he knew it he lost balance and fell close to a moving train. I was shocked. So much so that I almost balnked out. People coming under a train or in a car accidents are one of my biggest fears.

I literally felt everything become mute, i was only wondering if the man was okie and alive. I dared to look ( my biggest mistake) for what I saw will stay with me for a very long time. The train still continued to move, and parts of the train kept hitting the man, tossing his body around. By gods grace his head didnt come right under the train. the train passed, the man didnt move an inch.

He was unconscious, i was delirious, i could hardly breathe thinking i just saw a man die. The situation had totally taken over ever sensible bone in my body. Two brave women, jumped off the platform and begin to see if he was breathing. He was. But what could two young women do, they together hardly weighted 80 kilos.

I distinctly still remember this one lady was screaming for help, asking men to help her pick the body off the tracks before another train came. No one helped, these were men in their 40's who just stood there , as if it was a serial. Then young boys, the youth of India jumped off and picked the man up bringing him to the platform. As real as in reel life, the railway authorizes arrived only after the drama was over.

I salute those 2 women, they jumped to help the situation 1st. I still dont think im over the situation and i hope it doesn't haunt me tonight. Im surely never ever crossing rail tracks ever again. I pray to god the man is alive.

Labels: Death, Life, railway accident in Bandra