They watched son dragged by Metro train,hit railing

As the four-coach train rolled in,the Seths — Rajesh Kumar Seth (36),his wife Dolly (33),father Siya Ram Sharan Gupt and four-year-old Aditya — found themselves at a distance from the last coach of the train. The family rushed to board the train,but only Aditya could board it.

When the doors began to close,Dolly tried to pull Aditya out of the train,but the doors shut on his ankle and the train began to move,the family said.

Speaking to Newsline over the phone from Ambala,Rajesh said: “We are familiar with the Metro system and it is not that we were not careful. It is just that my son got in without noticing that we were left behind. But shouldn’t the doors have opened when his foot was stuck? The driver also did not pay any attention to so many people running along the train (trying to rescue Aditya).”

Aditya suffered injuries on his face as it brushed against the railing on the platform. Dolly was also injured as she fell on the tracks in an attempt to save her son. Two securitymen,who finally succeeded in pulling Aditya free,were also injured.

“It was a shocking experience for us — to see our son getting dragged like that,hitting the railing,” Seth said.

He said Aditya suffered minor injuries on the leg,while doctors suspect he might have fractured his nose. “We have been asked to wait till the swelling in his nose subsides,and then get a fresh X-ray done,” he said Seth,who runs an Ayurvedic medicine store in Ambala,filed an FIR against the Delhi Metro. A case of negligence has been registered.

Director (Operations) of DMRC Raj Kumar said: “A complete analysis of Saturday’s incident is being done. We are taking the statements of the driver,the security guards and other witnesses. We will also check the CCTV footage.”

Kumar said the Delhi Metro is verifying the sensors in the train doors and has also asked drivers and guards to be more alert. He also appealed to the commuters. “We have been insisting that commuters should stay away from closing doors. They should not try to board or deboard a train at the last minute. There is no need for this since there is a train every three minutes,” he said.