Colour makes commuters run

MUMBAI, MARCH 12: There's a scramble to slam windows and get away from doors in the 9.40 Vashi local passing Govandi as jeering youths sudde...

MUMBAI, MARCH 12: There8217;s a scramble to slam windows and get away from doors in the 9.40 Vashi local passing Govandi as jeering youths suddenly appear on the tracks and begin swinging a barrage of chemical and coloured water-filled balloons.

8220;Holi hai!8221;, grins a 10-year-old urchin as he flings a balloon, adding to the plethora of balloons bombarding the train. Every day over the last week, commuters, especially women, on both the western and central lines have been at the receiving end of this annual ritual; but have been able to do little other than gnash their teeth in silent rage.

And not all of them have been lucky to get away with only soiled clothes and egos. On Wednesday, 38-year-old Uttam Pawar suffered serious eye damage after being pelted by a colour-filled balloon near Mahalakshmi station. He may require eye surgery if he is to see with his right eye.

In the light of this incident, the Bombay Opthalmologists8217; Association has issued a statement asking the public to refrain from this form offorceful Holi8217;. What one considers as fun can make another blind, said Dr S Natarajan, association secretary. Chemicals like mica used to add lustre to the colour can easily blind people.

For commuters, sweating behind closed windows is a preferable option. 8220;We prefer the suffocation of closed windows to the prospect of being hit by those balloons,8221; says harbour line regular Bharati Mehta. Shutting windows and slamming doors in crowded trains have become the drill, with ladies8217; compartments being favourite hunting grounds for the urchins, she says, narrating an incident on Tuesday where a female co-passenger was splashed by a balloon. 8220;Why don8217;t the police and railway authorities prevent such incidents?8221; she demands.

However, railway authorities say the responsibility of policing the tracks lies with the Government Railway Police GRP. 8220;The GRP have already been informed and asked to prevent such incidents,8221; a railway spokesperson said.

8220;We have posted men on platforms as part of the regularbandobast, they can take action under the IPC for rash and negligent acts injuring others,8221; said Special I G of the GRP S G Suradkar. However, the GRP hasn8217;t caught anyone in the act yet, he added.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, commuters praying for an end to Holi agree that attacks this year have been more vicious. Apart from ordinary balloons packed with colours, cocktails deployed include polythene bags filled with gutter water, eggshells and even stones.

8220;This problem occurs wherever slums have been built close to the railway tracks,8221; stated a railway spokesperson. The worst affected are trains running on the harbour line between Kurla and Mankhurd. Slums here have been built inches away from the railway tracks, and trains in this sector have to cut down on speed to avoid running over people. This makes them sitting ducks for the balloon-happy slum children.