Railway cops to go hard on footboard travellers

CHENNAI: Desperate to attend an interview in the city, Krishnamurthy, an engineering graduate from Saidapet, chose to experiment an unusual mode of travel for reaching his destination. However, the destiny of the 30-year-old chap was rather different that paused his dreams forever.The youngster decided to commute on the footboard of the motor coach of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU), but slipped from the moving train. His legs came under the wheels of the same train and he suffered head injuries. He died while being rushed to the hospital.With the incidents of more number of youth preferring joy rides on the footboards of motor coaches, risking their lives by ignoring the dangers involved in it, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has begun to crack the whip on them.“In the last 40 days, three passengers, who were travelling on the footboards of motor coaches have met with accidents after falling down from the moving trains,” said Maharajan, Sub-Inspector, RPF Mambalam. According to him, commuting by motor coaches is a risky act, as the commuters are vulnerable to slip from the train, if the EMU experiences even a mild jerk. “Most of the victims on moving trains are footboard travellers commuting by motor coaches,” he mentioned.Travelling by motor coaches is dangerous, as only three inches are available for keeping the foot in the edge of the coaches. Besides, handles are not available to hold and the roof of the train is the only option for any balance. A 12-car EMU has three motor coaches and a nine-car train is equipped with two.However, teenagers and college students seem to enjoy the ride as the act is often looked upon as a bravado by their peers, thereby enhancing their image. Maharajan said, “The average age group of those killed in this mode of travel is below 25 years. Youngsters are least concerned about their safety.”Henceforth, the RPF personnel have kickstarted a drive to book the violators under Section 156 of the Railway Act, with a penalty of `500. It may be noted that over three lakh passengers commute by EMU trains between Chennai Beach and Tambaram daily.