Loco pilot Laxman Singh was on his way to Titwala station from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus but little did he know that some unidentified attackers would throw chilli powder at the motorman’s cabin as it crossed Kalva station.
Despite severe burn in his eyes, Singh kept driving carrying more than 2,500 passengers in a Mumbai local because if he would have halted, it would have been a different story altogether as it would have caused a delay on the railway line.
Singh was later awarded by the Central Railway Divisional Railway Manager, Sanjay Jain with an “appreciation certificate” and a cash reward of Rs 1,000.
The incident happened at 3:15 pm when he reached the next station ‘Mumbra’ as some station officials came up to him and said that they did not have any replacement for him at the Mumbra station. So, he had no other option but to steer the train after washing his eyes until the next station arrived.
He didn’t get a replacement till the Kalyan railway station at 4:12 PM after having driven the train for 18 km. After Kalyan station arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief as he was taken to a nearby hospital. Doctors at the hospital added that he could have suffered a permanent blindness and now that he is not serious as he needs some days to recover fully.
“The DRM Central Railways felicitated Singh for his exemplary service with a certificate and a cash prize. Also, the process of filing a police complaint against the miscreants has been initiated” said CPRO Central Railways Sunil Udasi.
Laxman Singh displayed immense courage, determination and dedication towards his work.
