Rushing to the rescue

Around 15 years ago,one accident forced Balaji to rush to every subsequent accident spot and offer a helping hand.

“I will never forget that moment in my life when I saw a 10-year-old girl,who was very much like my daughter,gasping and writhing in pain on the road. She was run over by a truck on the highway near Santragachi. I was passing by when I saw her. People had surrounded her and everyone was asking others to call the police. Nobody thought of taking the girl to a hospital,” said Balaji.

“After I saw her,I could not stop myself and took her to a local hospital in an auto. However,she was declared brought dead. Doctors told us that she could have survived if she could be taken to hospital earlier. I could not sleep for a month. Since then,whenever I hear of an accident,I rush to the spot. And my family always supports me,” he added.

In these 15 years,Balaji has become so popular as a rescue worker that the railways has inducted him in its civil defence force and police stations also often call him as a rescuer.

He lent a helping hand during the devastating blaze in Stephen Court on Park Street in 2010. He rushed to West Midnapore after the Gyaneshwari derailment. He was even there at Satraganchi last week when five people were run over by a train. Balaji,who belongs to Andhra Pradesh,lives in a small apartment near Santragachi in Howrah district. With his job in the railways,he runs a family of six including his four children and wife.

A friend now assists Balaji in his work — K C Gope. “Earlier,I used to rush to the spot alone. But now I have a friend who always accompanies me in rescuing and helping people. We rush there together and admit people in hospital,leaving our mobile numbers with the hospital authority. We feel joy when we see an accident victim reunited with family,” said Balaji.