Teenage rooftop traveller has miraculous escape

A teenage boy, who was getting late for his work and so decided to travel rooftop, had a miraculous escape on Wednesday around 10am. The boy was electrocuted for a few seconds and thrown onto the tracks as the train was nearing Thane. He suffered 16% burns.

His friends witnessed the incident, so they alighted at Thane and rushed him to Thane civil hospital.

The boy was heading to Grant Road where he works as a mechanic. Since he was getting late and the train was packed, he decided to travel rooftop. His friends – around eight of them – managed to get inside the compartment.

The victim, Salim Samad Shaikh, is a resident of Sanjay Nagar in Mumbra. His friend said, "I waited for Salim near Mumbra station and saw him running as we had to board the train which had just arrived on the platform. He tried to get in, but couldn't. When the train started moving, he held on to the iron road between the coaches and climbed on the roof."

"I was at Vitthalwadi for my brother's marriage function when I got a call informing me that Salim had suffered burns as he was travelling rooftop. He has never done this before. Once he told me that if he reports late at work, his boss shouts at him," said Salim's mother Farzana.

Salim said, "The train was crowded so I couldn't get in. I was already late to work by half an hour so I climbed on top of the train. Suddenly I felt a current and fell on the tracks. This is the first time I travelled rooftop only because I was late."

An official from Thane GRP said, "He suffered 16% burns on hands, back and thighs. His father does painting job and mother is a housewife."