A 50-year-old RPF constable, Jagbir Singh Rana was killed in an accident while saving a couple and some children from going under a train. The whole incident took place at around 9:30 pm when Constable Jagbir Singh Rana was patrolling the tracks between Adarsh Nagar and Azadpur railway stations.
“As told by witnesses and residents, when he reached signal number seven, he saw a couple arguing on the tracks. Rana spotted a Hoshiarpur Express train approaching the couple. Those who witnessed the incident said Rana ran towards the couple and alerted them. He pushed the man and the woman out of the train’s way and also stepped away from the track. Within a fraction of a second, the train passed by,” said an RPF officer, unofficially.
On the parallel track, a few children who had come to dump garbage were standing and watching the couple argue.
“Suddenly, Rana heard a train blow its horn and realised that another train was approaching him and the kids. He shouted at the kids to move away. They managed to step off the tracks but Rana, even as he jumped away, was hit by the train,” the officer added.
“The initial inquiry revealed that he was run over while trying to save a woman and some children. The train that hit him was the Kalka Shatabdi. His body was preserved for a post-mortem examination and family members were informed,” Deputy Commissioner of police (railways) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said. The department got a call about the accident at around 9:45 pm.
Arun Kumar, director general, RPF, said. “His name will be sent to the President for the bravery award (posthumously),”
“A wreath-laying ceremony was arranged for Rana, who had won the meritorious services award twice in his 29-year career. One of the awards was given by the minister of state of railways in 2009 and the other by the divisional railway in 2008,” RN Singh, divisional railway manager added.
“Many come here to dump garbage. We do not remember seeing them (the couple) here. I saw that the policeman first saved the couple and then ran after the children.” said Mohammad Naeem, a resident from near the tracks.
Jagbir Singh’s family donated his eyes and took his body to Jatola in Sonepat for his last rites; Rana is survived by his wife and two sons. Rohit Kumar, Jagbir Singh’s elder son said his family was in shock however they were proud that Jagbir Singh had lost his life in line of duty, protecting the lives of others. “He was sincere about his duty. He successfully saved a woman and three children. His sacrifice will always motivate us,” Kumar, a final year BA student, said.
The constable was posted at RPF’s Adarsh Nagar police station and had joined the force in July 1989.
Om Shanti.
