Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jun 13: Even though it has been nearly two months since a man lost both his legs while alighting from a train in Subrahmanya Road railway station, the news did not appear in the media. Tirumaleshwar (38), a resident of Subrahmanya, who got caught in the gap between the railway compartment and platform of the station, had to get both his legs amputated. The only bread-winner of the family lies inactive since then.

The platforms of several stations including Bantwal, Puttur, Narimogeru and Subrahmanya Road on Mangalore-Hassan section of the railway line were not risen to facilitate the passengers to get down easily. After the conversion of the railway line to broad gauge, there was a need to raise the heights of these platforms. Railway passengers, activists and newspapers had drawn the attention of the railways to this problem in the past.

Tirumaleshwar, who works as a truck driver in Mangalore, goes home once a week. On April 25, 2009, he arrived at Subrahmanya Road railway station by the Bangalore train. At the time of alighting, because of the height difference, he slipped and his legs got stuck in the gap between the platform and the compartment. There was no power that day when he came and the station does not have alternative power supply system. Because of darkness, he could not properly assess the gap and the height difference, Tirumaleshwar, who got discharged from the hospital recently, says. He also claims, he has already spent two lac rupees for the treatment.

The railway police however, have recorded the incident as having occurred,  because of the attempt made by the passenger to get down from the train hurriedly, before the train came to a compelte halt.

Tirumaleshwar has now filed a case against the railways at the Railway Court in Bangalore, to get justice.