Chilli powder flung into his eyes, motorman drives 18 km and ensures safety of 2,000 passengers on board

Despite being attacked with chilli powder and no one to replace him, motorman Laxman Singh drove 18 km with 2,000 passengers on board, ensuring safety of all the passengers.

Piloting one of the busiest suburban train routes in India is no easy job. While driving itself is challenging, the motorman also has the additional responsibility of the lives of passengers on board.

Recently, an incident took place at Kalva railway station in Mumbai, where some unknown men threw chilli powder at Laxman Singh, the motorman on duty. Singh was piloting CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) Titwala when the incident took place. Despite being attacked, 48-year-old Singh drove 18 km with 2,000 passengers on board.

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Despite the severe burning sensation in his eyes, Singh decided to keep the train, which was running at 95 kmph, moving. Any stoppage in between would have resulted to an unwanted disruption on the central line, reported Firstpost.

According to railway officials, Singh immediately informed the control room about the attack. Later, when he arrived at Mumbra station expecting someone to replace him after the attack, the officials said there was no one to replace him.

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India today reported that Singh, after washing his eyes, decided to pilot the train till the next station. This time, he was accompanied by DY Station Superintendent in the motorman’s cabin. With no replacement available, Singh kept washing his eyes at the next three stations until he reached Kalyan station. Officials said a replacement wasn’t possible due to the ongoing protests by people against the Pulwama attacks.

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Singh was later taken to a hospital nearby and treated. In an official statement, Sunil Udasi, CPRO, Central Railways said,

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.

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