WEDNESDAY, MAY 08, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The “selfie culture” has taken its toll. Thirty-six-year-old Rudal Ram, a Bihar native, who lost both legs in a train accident while taking selfie at Cortalim, succumbed to his injuries at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim on Thursday.
According to sources, Ram was residing in Madkai along with his family for over a decade in a rented room. He is survived by his wife Sheela Devi and four sons.
Konkan Railway Police on Thursday afternoon recorded the statement of his wife who reached the Konkan Railway Police Station, Margao after receiving the news of her husband’s death.
Police also recorded the statement of Sheela’s brother Pankaj Kumar and Ram’s friend Vinod Ram.
According to Konkan Railway Police, Sheela stated that the deceased was working in a factory at Madkai and was earning around Rs15,000. Sheela also works in the company to earn her living, police said.
Police said that recently the couple was joined by Pankaj who was contacted by Ram assuring him a job.
According to Sheela, he husband was at home for the last three days and used to be in an inebriated state. However on Wednesday at around 4 pm he moved out.
She thought that as usual he would return home late night but he did not. So the family went out searching for Ram but in vain.
Finally, Vinod, who works in Madkai, received a call from Bihar Police that his friend died in an accident.
Konkan Railway Police said based on the Aadhaar Card address of the deceased they contacted the concerned police station in the jurisdiction of his village and information was provided to Bihar Police.
The Bihar Police contacted Pankaj who informed Sheela about her husband’s death.
According to the Konkan Railway Police investigation, the deceased came to Cortalim on Wednesday evening at around 4.30 and climbed the steps to reach the railway track.
Further when the train proceeding from Margao reached Cortalim at around 5.45 pm he slept on the track.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 174 of Cr PC pending investigation. Police said that a post-mortem examination will be held on October 14.
Vasco Traffic PI Shailesh Narvenkar said the police have taken note of the incidents that have occurred in the past wherein people who climbed on to the railway track have been grievously hurt while taking selfies or by just loitering on the tracks.
"We have urged the locals of Cortalim not to allow people on the railway track” he said.
Claiming that there are cases of people taking selfies while riding vehicles and the traffic police are promptly discouraging such acts. “We have booked the persons who attempt to take selfies riding two-wheelers. It is dangerous for riders and other motorists,” he added.
