Chennai: This should really explain to railway officials why it is imperative to have proper emergency medical facilities at major railway stations.
Vijayalakshmi (53) of Bengaluru would have been alive if only timely medical attention had reached her or the alleged time lapse at Karur railway station had been averted a fortnight ago.
The retired Air Force officer’s wife suffered a cardiac arrest which was diagnosed by a couple of doctors travelling on the same train bound for her native place, Virudhunagar, from Bengaluru.
Despite being alerted by the travelling doctors, the railway officials faced the wrath of passengers who were upset over the authorities receiving the train on platform 3, instead of platform 1, which is closest to the exit.
Worse, the signal was cleared for the train notwithstanding the fact that three passengers had alighted to carry the stretcher from the platform to the station’s exit.
Irked, the other passengers argued and detained the train for two hours, angry at the railway officials’ callous attitude at the station.
Sadly, Vijayalakshmi died en route to the hospital aboard the 108 ambulance service.
Most people who had knowledge of the incident felt that if only the authorities were shrewder and received the train on platform 1, kept enough men to carry the stretcher and take her to the hospital in time or at least had an emergency medical team at the station, a percious life could have been saved.
