Virar fast: Ladies’ train of horror

Slapping, biting, kicking, yelling, screaming — commuters in the ladies’ compartment bear physical and emotional bruises of a travel that is proving to be a recurring nightmare.

Yesterday I stamped someone's foot and did not realise it. The next thing I know is that a lady starts hitting me. After the initial shock, I retaliated. It soon became a cat fight and it wasn't until later that someone told me the reason for our huge squabble. The funniest part is that the other passengers were unperturbed by the commotion. — Amrita Kumblan/ Andheri

I once took the Virar fast on my way back home. I had to get off at Borivali. When the train was nearing the station I noticed that a couple of hawkers had unloaded their wares at the entrance. My stop came and I tried to get out but the hawkers would not move. I finally missed my stop and had to get off at a later station. — Mehnaz Dastoor/ Borivali

I took the Virar fast at Mumbai Central and wanted to get off at Borivali. When I reached my stop the ladies refused to move and let me get off. No amount of pleading made them move. I was shocked by their behaviour. Why were they doing this to me? Finally, one woman explained to me in a not-so-nice tone that if I wanted to get off at Borivali I had no business to board a Virar train. This was their way to teach me a lesson, which I did learn. — Simran Gill/ Kandivali

I tried to board a train at Kandivali. A part of me namely a hand and leg managed to catch the train while the rest of me was suspended in mid air. I begged the women to allow me in but they refused. Soon the train started but I was still stuck. The ladies told me that I should take an Andheri train and not try to invade their space. I finally fell off at Malad. Though I reached college late I was grateful that I was alive. — Heena Dharia/ Kandivali

Discussion coordinated by Kiran Wadhwa