A sexagenarian from Kerala lost his life during a train journey after an occupied upper berth fell on him. The victim was traveling in the sleeper coach of Ernakulam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Millennium Superfast Express (12645) when the tragic incident occurred on June 16, Sunday, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said on Wednesday.
62-year-old EM Ali Khan, who boarded from Thrissur, was asleep in the lower berth of the sleeper coach when the train reached Telangana's Warangal, Manorama News said in a report. He was accompanying his friend to visit the latter's relative in Punjab before setting out on a sightseeing in New Delhi on the way back.
The passenger on the middle berth came crashing down and fell on Khan. The impact of the accident resulted in Khan, who was side-sleeping, suffering multiple fractures, the news report said.
Ali Khan suffered serious injuries to his spine and cervical vertebrae and lost the ability to move, the news report said. He was rushed to a private hospital in Warangal where he breathed his last.
Meanwhile, The Hindustan Times reported that a Railway Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the accident was not caused by a defunct birth. When checked, it was known that the occupant had not properly locked the upper berth using the chains, causing the accident.
"...the upper berth seat fell due to improper placement of chain of the upper berth.
"...Railway staff on other hand after getting message at around 18:34 hrs (15.6.2024) at Ramagundam station. on-duty station master, immediately arranged for assistance by 108 Ambulance and made an unscheduled stoppage of the train at Ramagundam. The passenger was shifted from the coach to the ambulance and admitted in the nearby hospital,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying on X.
Ali Khan, a native of Malappuram's Ponnani, was laid to rest on Wednesday.
