A disturbing YouTube video captured a boy at attention. A boy holding a stick and trying to knock a phone out of the passenger’s hand as the train went by where isn’t certain for certain. But it has raised serious questions about where railway safety stands and the kind of behavior that can be reported in front of train tracks at any time when people walk off the train tracks.
That video shows the boy waiting close to the railway's edge as the train went past. He leaned dangerously close to the speeding coaches and drew a stick alongside a passenger with a mobile phone. That didn’t seem like it was intended at hitting the phone out of the passenger’s hand; instead, it had appeared to get in its line between him and a passenger that could have been shot.
Fortunately, the passenger was uninjured, but also in the act. The action was so dangerous to one’s health, the boy’s life in such close proximity to a moving train could have happened instantly. The video instantly spread to social media sites causing alarm and discussion.
Social media users were furious when they came across this clip. Such reactions were swift and severe in their comments, one saying the boy’s actions could be irresponsible and life risking, one said. Others expressed some concern about the lack of supervision and awareness by parents at least in close proximity to railway tracks children would have.
Some viewers pointed out that such reckless behavior is not uncommon, children often play near railway lines without realizing the dangers. There were memes and comments and concern but all of them had the same feeling: shock and worry.
India has one of the largest railway networks in the world carrying millions of passengers daily, but railway safety still remains a big challenge. Even with training in place as a warning to people, but also the frequent railway mishaps, people near trains and crossing tracks at some place else without stopping to look for help and also pulling stunts.
That viral video shows we have to do far more to protect safety levels and increase education for those children and communities located along railway tracks. And nobody can forget that even simple carelessness near trains is one of the risks that will lead people into tragedy (National Railways Safety Foundation and SRI) recently warned we have to take care.
I think the boy did try to knock a passenger’s phone on a stick, but that could have killed him, really. It’s a reminder that railway safety needs to be taken seriously and even if trains continue to be a lifeline for millions it’s extremely important to keep children in the train track in line and train safety at the edge, since they are like they own trains’ lines now.
