Tragic Incident: Train Upper Berth Collapses on Man Travelling to Delhi, Dies

LIC Agent from Kerala Dies a Week Later, After Train Berth Falls on Him; Railways Clarify Seat Not Defective

27 June, 2024

In a tragic incident, a 62-year-old man from Kerala, M Alikhan, died after an upper berth in his train compartment allegedly collapsed on him. The incident occurred on June 16 while Alikhan was travelling from Thrissur to New Delhi on the Ernakulam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express. Alikhan, who worked as an LIC agent and was a resident of Ponnani in Malappuram, succumbed to his injuries on June 24 after spending over a week in the hospital.

Alikhan had embarked on the journey with his friend, Muhammed, to visit the latter’s daughter in Jalandhar, who is a college student. The two friends planned to visit Delhi and Agra before heading to Punjab. According to Alikhan’s elder brother, Backer, Muhammed had invited Alikhan to accompany him on this trip.

Following the incident, Indian Railways issued a statement clarifying that the accident was not due to a defect in the berth. According to a spokesperson for the Railway Ministry, the upper berth fell because it had not been properly secured with its chains by the passenger occupying it. The spokesperson said, “The upper berth seat fell down due to improper placement of the chain of the upper berth. Due to improper chaining of the seat by the passenger, the seat fell down. The seat was not in damaged condition.”

The authorities further detailed the immediate response to the incident. At around 6:34 pm on June 15, the on-duty station master at Ramagundam station received a message about the accident. In response, the station master arranged for assistance via a 108 ambulance and facilitated an unscheduled stop of the train at Ramagundam. Alikhan was promptly moved from the train to the ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Despite the Railways’ clarification that the berth was not defective, the incident has raised concerns about passenger safety and the proper securing of train berths. The Railways’ statement emphasized that when the berth was checked at Hazarat Nizamuddin station, it was found to be in proper condition, and the issue arose from the improper use of the securing chains by the passenger.

Alikhan’s death highlights the need for ensuring that passengers are adequately informed and reminded about the correct use of safety mechanisms in train compartments. The Railways’ prompt response in providing medical assistance was noted, but the tragic outcome underscores the importance of rigorous safety checks and passenger awareness to prevent such accidents in the future.