FOR someone who has been travelling in trains for the last around 45 years, this incident was beyond my wildest imagination. On 7th May, I was travelling from Secunderabad to Ballarsha. Being on transit flights from Cochi-Mumbai-Hyderabad in the previous night, I could hardly sleep. After boarding train and usual checking of the TTE, I just slept off, so deep that I woke up at around 3.45 pm. By that time, to my horror, the train had crossed my destination and had reached the next one i.e. Chandrapur. (How could I wish the train to run late by 30 minutes). The next stop was at Sewagram, at 5.15pm. Thus, the only option was to alight there and take a train coming from opposite direction to reach Ballarsha. I continued to wonder about, how this could happen as I seldom sleep so deep while travelling?

As the train halted for a technical stop at one of the small stations on the route (Majri), around 30 minutes off Chandrapur, I alighted there. After feeling frustrated about missing my station, I got some relief that now there is no need to go to Wardha, a far distance station for me, hardly thinking of the consequences. At platform, I met a team of TTE, leaving for their quarters after duty. On hearing my story, they pointed out my folly, as there was no conveyance outside the station to reach the nearest town, Warora. Still they consoled me and themselves took it up to find some solution. They took me to the Station Master, who promised to look for options. But there was hardly any as the next train was after 2.5 hours.

The TTEs continued to be with me for moral support, looking for any vehicles going to Warora. Then, the Station Master rang up some person who he was told left the station for his home. He called him back and told to take me to Warora on his bike. This noble person dropped me at Bhadrawati, from where I got an ST bus to Ballarsha. Who all these people were? My relatives? My friends? They were not even knowing me a few minutes before. They may not meet me again in life. Then why did they help me so much? What forced them to help me? The answer is their humanity. Humanity is still alive in this world. Humanity is more alive in my country, more in small towns that big cities and more in common man than the rich people.

For railway staff, who carry a general assumption of being rude and non-cooperative, this incident was a true eye-opener. The kind of moral support and help they extended even after their duty hours, I have no words to repay the gratitude. My only regret is, in that confused state of mind, I couldn’t take their name and mobile number, to convey my gratitude personally. If they happen to read this, my heartfelt gratitude to the Station Master and crew for what they did. Keep this humanity alive forever. A big salute!!!