15-year-old sustains 50% burns after his hair grazes 25,000V wires at Elphinstone station.
Commuters at Elphinstone station learned it the hard way the danger that rooftop train travelling poses. They found themselves standing by helplessly as a 15-year-old boy writhe in pain after he was badly burnt when his hair touched live 25,000V traction wires there on Friday.
The accident was followed by a loud blast, triggering panic at the station. The boy, Aakash Sharma, collapsed as soon as he touched the wires even as commuters kept shouting at him.
"The boy had boarded the ladies' compartment of a Churchgate-Virar train at the Lower Parel station. Later, when we saw him at Elphinstone station, he was on top of the train, walking upright and ignoring the pleas of commuters to get down," said an eyewitness.
Railway spokesperson Nitin David said the boy, who was badly burnt, was alive when he was rushed to King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital at Parel. "The train was held up for eight minutes at 6.30pm. There were no other delays or cancellations," he said.
A doctor from the KEM Hospital said the boy had sustained 50% burns and was breathing heavily. "We are monitoring him."
The Western Railway had switched over from the 1500V direct current mode to the 25,000V alternating current power mode on February 5. The upgraded power mode is stronger and will enable the the trains to run faster.
A railway official explained the risk the new power mode poses. "Climbing the roof is riskier now. The new 25,000V power mode is almost 17 times stronger than the old one and all those within 2m of the overhead wires will be instantly pulled towards the wires due to their magnetic field."
A RPF official said, "We have conducted extensive campaigns to create awareness about the dangers of rooftop travel. The railway police also take action against those travelling in such a manner. A violator can be jailed for a maximum of six months."
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