Recalling horror of being derailed

Mumbai: According to the witnesses and survivors of the derailment, a loud noise was heard before they felt a jump. Right after that, the screams of their co-passengers lead them to believe that the train was going to overturn.

While five passengers suffered minor injuries, the sixth passenger, Bankelal Kanaujiya (38), is still in the hospital after being shifted from the Sion Hospital to the Railways’ Jagjivan Ram Hospital at Mumbai Central on Saturday. He had been told that he will have to undergo a surgery for his left leg, to repair the damaged caused by the derailment. Recalling the accident, he says, “First we heard a very scary sound and then as the train began to tilt, we could see sparks and it seemed as if the train was on fire. I could hear the women screaming and men shouting during the entire ordeal. I jumped out to save my life.”

Mr Kanaujiya and other survivors like Sidhi Pale (20) feel that it was sheer luck that they got away with very few injuries. Ms Pale, a Sewri resident, said, “I was on my way to my office at Vile Parle and had to jump out when the train started to move sideways. I am lucky that

I made it home in one piece with only a bruised knee and nothing more serious. Today, I am celebrating Ganpati with my family, I think it is he who saved me.”

Tanabai Maghre (70), another Sewri resident, was on her way to meet a friend in the same ill-fated train. She suffered injuries as many panic stricken passengers trampled over her, leaving her lying in the coach to be rescued. She said, “Due to my age, I couldn’t jump out of the train. The only way for me to get out was through the door and it was then that I was trampled by other women. Later, someone helped me in getting out of the coach, I don’t remember who it was.”

The other passengers injured in the accident were Yasmin Salim (18) and Geeta (30).