30 July,2026 04:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Central Railway commended Pointsman Vallentine D`Souza (R) and RPF constable Sikandara Sahani (L) for their alertness, courage and presence of mind. Pic/CR
Two Central Railway employees displayed exceptional courage and quick thinking after rescuing a physically challenged passenger who slipped while attempting to board a moving train at Lonavala railway station on Wednesday evening, an official statement said.
The timely intervention by a pointsman and a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable prevented what could have been a fatal accident.
The incident occurred at around 6.32 pm on July 29, shortly after the 11030 Kolhapur-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Koyna Express departed from Lonavala station.
According to Central Railway, the passenger, identified as Amit, a resident of Karjat, attempted to board a general second-class coach while using crutches. He lost his balance and fell beside the moving train.
Pointsman Vallentine D'Souza and RPF constable Sikandara Sahani, who were on duty at the railway station, immediately noticed the incident.
Without hesitation, both rushed towards the passenger and pulled him away from the moving train, safely preventing him from coming under the wheels.
Their prompt action saved the passenger from serious injury or death.
Railway officials said Amit was in shock after the incident.
Station staff provided him with first aid and counselling before ensuring he was comfortably accommodated on the next available train to continue his journey.
Central Railway commended both employees for their alertness, courage and presence of mind, describing their actions as an example of dedication to passenger safety.
The railway administration also appealed to passengers not to board or get off moving trains, warning that such actions can lead to serious injuries or loss of life.
Meanwhile, the Central Railway on Wednesday said that it has restored rail connectivity between Mumbai and Pune, reopening all three railway lines in the Karjat-Lonavala ghat section after a challenging 23-day restoration operation following severe monsoon damage.
According to an official statement, the train services on the final UP line between Khandala and Monkey Hill resumed at 6.42 pm on 28 July, marking the full restoration of the important rail corridor.
The railway route suffered extensive damage after 327 mm of rainfall on July 5 followed by 600 to 670 mm of rain on 6 July, which triggered multiple landslides, boulder falls and embankment collapses across the ghat section.
The disruption affected the UP, DOWN and MID railway lines, leading to train cancellations, diversions, short terminations and rescheduling between July 6 and July 28.
Around 665 train services were affected during the disruption.
Railway engineers and workers battled continuous rainfall, unstable slopes and repeated landslides throughout the restoration work.
