When death happens on train

Good samaritan

However, a group of passengers from Kerala who were witness to the death of a fellow-passenger resisted the efforts of railway officials to remove the body. Instead, the passengers with the help of Malayali Samajam at stations on the way made arrangements to preserve the body and take it home in good condition.

The body of U K Kumaran reached his home at Thrissur after 30 hours of train journey on Monday evening. 

Kumaran, 55, had gone all alone to Delhi to participate in the CPM’s Parliament march and also see the party headquarters there. While in Delhi, he met with a roadside accident and he was admitted to the AIIMS. His two daughters and son-in-law rushed to Delhi to fetch him and accompanied him on the return journey by the Duronto Express to Ernakulam on Saturday evening. 

“When the train reached Surat railway station on Sunday morning, he developed uneasiness. Though we informed the TTE, he could do nothing. Doctors who were travelling in the train tried to help the passenger,’’ said Prasannan who was also on the train. Nevertheless, Kumaran breathed his last within an hour.

According to passengers, the TTE asked Kumaran’s relative to take out the body at the next station itself. However, the passengers many of whom were Keralites objected to this. Though the police were called in, the passengers resisted any attempt to remove the body.

After making several phone calls to several people, the Minister of state for Railways E Ahmed finally intervened. The Railways agreed to allow the body to be transported in the parcel van after properly encasing it.  

Malayali Samajam activists brought the coffin and ice at Panvel station and the body was
transferred to the box. Further, ice was also added at several stations en route with the help of local samajam activists. Finally the body reached Thrissur at 6 pm on Monday.  
DH News Service