A Train Accident
Train is the most common mode of transport for man to go from any one place to another. It is so exciting and interesting when we go in a train from one town to another in the country.
On the way we cross all kinds of terrain like plains, hilly areas, water expanses, and bridges over gorges and rivers. It gives the travellers a beautiful view of the entire gamut of terrain existing in the areas crossed, which is almost always a wide variety.
All this seen from the distance is really fascinating but, when any one of these beauties causes damage to the train or the passengers, the beauty turns into a nasty appearance.
However, when one sits in a train bound to go thousands of kilometres to meet loved ones or to perform some duty, never can be sure that, we will return home or even reach the destination safely. An accident of a train has become absolutely common place now days. When we board a train we can never be sure of what is in store for us.
In a train a few thousand people travel together and, if an accident occurs it is just very great luck for those who survive. The trains run at such fast speeds that, an accident means easily hundreds of people dead or maimed for life.
I remember how I once had to face the trauma of a train accident which I was aboard, with my parents. It was day time I think about 4 p.m. when the train that was bound for Bhuvaneshwar with all of us on board met with an accident. Five of the compartments of the train got derailed when the train hit into a standing goods train. Oh! I remember how we, my mother and I fell from the second tier of our compartment and that also on the huge trunks laid down on the floor of the compartment.
Both of us had lost balance when the train gave a jerk and stopped with a thud. By chance, at that time my father was in the toilet and he fell there and hit his head with the sink there. With great difficulty, he came out of the toilet with a profusely bleeding forehead and absolutely frantic in search of Mummy and me. He thought that the train had collided with another moving train which could spell a major disaster.
However, when he came to us and found us safe though badly hurt, he asked the other passengers as to what had happened. He was told that, their train had rammed into a standing goods train and a few bogies had been derailed. Now he went down to see and with him I also went.
Now the scene that I can recollect was of complete destruction and wild commotion. The people of all bogies were desperately looking for their loved ones seated in different compartments.
The damaged compartments had been overturned and there was such frenzy to see who all were there dead or alive. Soon people thronged there to take out from the train, people who may be alive. That sight was simply heart rending some people were heard moaning with pain but, no one could find them. If some were found they had lost their limbs or faces crushed, and of course the number that were found dead was the largest.
Looking for the welfare of their own every one alighted from the train. The sight was just horrible when hundreds of people were laid in a line on the track with their faces covered as, they had been declared dead. Some injured were groaning for help and some were crying and wailing for their dead. Oh! What a sight it was I do hope I never experience such a horrible sight ever again in my life.
Stations ahead were informed and relief came in but, those who had lost their dear ones had nothing to look forward to. The scenes gave me a sort of fear against train travel, and believe me; I refused to travel for two or three years after this incident. We were all, however very thankful to God for saving us all even in that ill fated train.
What I have not still understood is how; a standing train could not be detected by the train moving on its own track. Besides, I cannot understand how the goods train could be left standing on the track on which a passenger train was due. This can only be attributed to absolute negligence of the train staff and the railway staff on the whole. Such accidents are caused by sheer callousness of people concerned and those involved must be punished severely for such gross negligence.
