To witness a scene of an accident is really a demoralising and sad experience. But an accident is an accident Accidents come suddenly without prior notice and with drastic effect on the victim. I was once present to witness such a pitiful scene which I cannot forget even this day.
I was returning with our family from Cuttack to my native place. We had been waiting on the platform of Cuttack Junction Station for the train to arrive. As the train was seen near the distant signal post, we became alerted. Suddenly, we saw a hawker boy jumping on the railway track with his wares in hand.
Perhaps he wanted to cross the lines quickly, before which the train came upon him heavily to crush his fragile body into a lump of flesh and bone. The train stopped at once with three long shrill whistles indicating danger, because the engine driver noticed the boy before he was able to bring the speed of the train under full control. The whole event happened so quickly that it was impossible for anyone to guess that the boy would be run over in that manner.
The train was detained. We boarded the train with a heavy heart, and waited until the train left after about an hour or so. Meanwhile, the railway police, the Station Master, the Guard and some members of the public carried the mutilated body of the poor hawker to the waiting room for post mortem.
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On the platform, an old woman who happened to witness the accident fainted out of shock. People rushed to bring her to her senses, by sprinkling water on her face and head. My mother’s eyes became full of tears. She sat in the compartment, silent and grave. My heart, too, was heavy at the sight of the sad accident that shattered the normal atmosphere of the railway platform.
I do know that the members of the victim’s family will have to starve now, in absence of their earning member who is no more. Ah, his young life was brought to an end by the fatal accident, just a few minutes back!