One man climbed up on the roof of the Padatik Express and threatened to end his life after saying his girlfriend had left him in a tense incident at Sealdah Railway Station in Kolkata last night, which caused panic among passengers, and he was managed to be rescued by RPF.
Witnesses said the man, who was about 30 years old according to one of them, climbed onto the roof of the train shortly after it arrived at the platform. His actions immediately alarmed passengers and railway staff as the train was positioned beneath high-voltage overhead electric wires, making it very dangerous.
As he stood on top of the train with his backpack, he repeatedly demanded that his girlfriend be brought back to him. He yelled that he would touch the overhead electrical wire if his request was not met, according to sources.
Witnesses reported that he emotionally declared that his girlfriend had left him and that he wanted her to return. He also said his friends had been mocking him, which only added to his distress. He said throughout the incident that he wanted to see his girlfriend and close friends, and to do so, he would take his own life.
The passengers gathered on the platform as the situation proceeded, and railway officials immediately notified the Railway Protection Force. Officers quickly cordoned off the area and began negotiating with the man, pleading with him to come down safely, they said.
But initially, the RPF personnel tried to convince him to cooperate, and the man refused to cooperate despite repeated appeals by RPF staff for him to comply. He continued to make emotional statements and remained on the roof, at times moving around and even coming dangerously close to the edge, raising concerns for his safety.
Knowing the urgency of the situation, RPF personnel climbed onto the train from both ends and continued to talk to him. After 10 to 15 minutes of patient negotiations, one of the officers managed to safely grab the man and pull him away from danger. He was then safely brought down without injury.
After the rescue, railway officials verified the man's identity documents and found that he was a resident of Assam, but some of his relatives live in Kolkata. His family was immediately contacted and arrived at Sealdah station shortly after.
According to officials, the family informed authorities that the man was experiencing mental health issues. He was initially examined by railway doctors at the station before being taken to Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital for further medical evaluation and observation.
The incident briefly disrupted normal activities at one of Kolkata’s busiest railway stations, but railway operations resumed once the rescue was completed. No passengers or railway personnel were injured in the incident.
In the same way, the scene in the water tank sequence in the classic Bollywood movie Sholay, in which Veeru threatens self-harm over a romantic dispute, has been a topic of great debate on social media. But others expressed empathy, saying emotional distress and mental health issues should not be judged but treated with compassion.
Psychiatric professionals stress that people who have thoughts of suicide need immediate help and professional care. Someone who is in great emotional distress should seek help from close family members, friends, or mental health professionals and a therapist at the earliest opportunity.
The incident will be under consideration by the authorities, and the safety and security of railway stations will be maintained, they added.
