ER urges passengers to avoid the ‘gamble’ of boarding a moving train
The Statesman | 30 March 2026
It was 2 February and the day at Bidhan Nagar station was busy as usual when the security personnel of the Eastern Railway noticed a passenger hanging from a moving train. Sensing the gravity of the danger ahead, security personnel at the station rushed to the spot and the hanging passenger was physically hauled onto the platform.
In a similar incident that occurred on 10 February, a 70-year-old man while trying to board a moving train slipped into the gap between the platform and the train requiring an emergency brake application to save his life. Most recently, on 20 February, at Sultanganj, an elderly man was rescued after being left hanging from a departing coach. In all these cases, even though the RPF’s swift action prevented a tragedy, the risk remained high for those who ignored basic safety rules.
The split-second time between a train’s whistle and its departure is often the most dangerous moment on a railway platform. For many, the sight of a moving coach sparks an instinctive urge to run and leap onto the footboard, according to railway officials. On 13 January, at Sahibganj, a mother and child were rescued from a mishap, followed by another narrow escape for a young girl at Jasidih on 24 January. Last year, on 29 September, at Dum Dum station a passenger with luggage nearly fell into the gap before being pulled to safety. Similar life-saving interventions occurred on 17 November 2025, at Jasidih station, where a passenger slipped while boarding a departing train. Again on 9 December, 2025, at Bhagalpur, a woman was saved from falling onto the tracks.
As reiterated by ER officials, the security personnel’s life plays a crucial role in the thin line between life and death in these terrifying moments across various stations. The Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railway, Shibram Majhi, pointed out that while the RPF is always on alert to protect commuters, passengers also must take responsibility for their own lives. He requested all travellers to never attempt to board or de-board a moving train, emphasising that the platform is a place for waiting and the tracks are strictly for trains.