A Southern Railway gatekeeper was praised for his courage after he risked his own life to save a trespasser from being hit by an oncoming train in Tamil Nadu. The daring rescue, captured on CCTV, has gone viral, and the railway worker is awarded an official Safety Award for his presence of mind and dedication to duty.
The incident took place on July 6, 2026, at a railway level crossing in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu. At 4 p.m., Train No. 66020 was approaching the crossing when 30-year-old gatekeeper Sandeep Chahar saw a man illegally walking on the railway tracks, completely unaware of the danger rapidly closing in.
With no time to think, Chahar reacted immediately to the trespasser. He sprinted almost 10 meters towards the trespasser, grabbed him by the arm, and dragged him away from the tracks. In seconds, both fell to the ground as the fast train roared by. The rescue was done in seconds and saved what might have been a life-threatening accident.
The heart-stopping incident was filmed on CCTV cameras installed near the level crossing. The video clearly shows Chahar’s quick response and fearless action, and soon the video was being viewed and praised by people in different parts of the country.
Honoured for Bravery
And as a tribute to his courage and dedication to public safety, Southern Railway awarded Sandeep Chahar with the Safety Award on July 9, 2026.
The award was presented by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shri Balak Ram Negi on the occasion of the ceremony at Tiruchchirappalli, where railway officials appreciated Chahar for his alertness, professionalism, and willingness to risk his own safety to save another person’s life.
Such recognition is in line with Southern Railway's desire to recognize employees who give 100% of themselves to the work they do and are giving 100% of themselves in service of the company.
Railway Gatekeeper Risks His Life to Save Man Seconds Before Speeding Train Near Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/DJOQhUbnqd
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) July 9, 2026
"I Was Simply Doing My Duty"
Despite the love and recognition of the public and the honour he received, Chahar was humble about his heroics.
"I was doing my duty. I am happy that I saved someone's life,” he said following receiving the award.
Chahar is from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and has been with Southern Railway for the last seven years. His calm response and humble nature have also won him colleagues and public respect.
A Reminder about Railway Safety
Railway authorities have once again taken advantage of the incident to remind the public of the dangers of trespassing on railway tracks. Many accidents occur every year as people illegally cross the tracks and fail to see warning signals at level crossings.
Trains travel at high speed and take a long time to stop, and locomotive pilots cannot navigate the sudden obstacles on the tracks, they said. They advised people to cross the tracks in marked areas and follow all railway safety rules.
Sandeep Chahar saved a life, and so did railway workers, and their work is so much more than that. He is an example of dedication, quick thinking, and selfless service, and the dedication and quick thinking that have to be there, and it’s just a reminder to everyone that we need to be doing what we are doing.
