An Old Couple & I - In Shocking Sojourn

sln · Jan 9, 2020

Thyagarajan said: ↑

AN OLD COUPLE & I - IN SHOCKING SOJOURN
It was raining cats and dogs. The double-decker bus halted at the last but one stop before reaching its terminus. The time was half past noon and school children in uniform were returning from school, but visibility was poor due to high humidity. But for me and an elderly couple, all other commuters alighted at the stop and then bus proceeded with conductor pulling the bell-rope twice.

In front row, old man sitting with his wife by the window was mentioning about their grand-daughter as to how thoughtful of her to engage my services to escort them from city to their home at suburb. They were not used to hustle and bustle of rail journey which mode takes less travel time compared to the circuitous bus journey.

Grand lady responded that probably there was no train service for want of power supply.
Yes. True. Cloudburst since last evening disrupted power supply to electric traction across the heart of the city and its suburbs.

Bus young driver - recently inducted was supposed to follow the standard route via highway - a small stretch of which was over the railway bridge. An accident on the highway threw the traffic into chaos. Vehicles of various shapes and sizes stood-still, bumper to bumper and joining this long queue of vehicles would delay the double Decker trip-time and its late arrival at the terminus; and that would earn a blot in driver’s dossier.

Deliberating thus, the driver Instead of following prescribed route on the highway, took diversion on to a branching road that would lead to terminus via railway level crossing. As he approached the railway level crossing, the electronic wicket gate (barrier) lifted for the traffic to flow from either side.

Few yards before the Decker could reach wicket gate -the level crossing- the couple and I managed to alight when it was drizzling.
It was at that moment, I saw a well stocky man hurriedly folded his umbrella and in tearing hurry boarded the Decker with one foot in a poodle of water and other foot on the foot rest at the boarding point of the Decker with his right hand about to hold the railing at the entrance.

Three different but simultaneous eerie cries rent the air for few seconds. The couple and I stood stunned in the pouring rain as we heard the cry of the passenger in hurry and the cries of the conductor and driver.
The Decker was in neutral gear and stopped over the rails of electric traction when the overhead wires of the electric traction was fouling with the roof of the Decker.
The cruel hand of fate extinguished the lives of the driver, conductor and the man-in-hurry instantly.
Never had I seen a Decker passed or plying across this stretch of wicket gate.

This lead to a commotion and soon we learnt that the electrocution of the man-in-hurry and the bus conductor and driver was result of the restoration of 440 volts power supply across the overhead transmission lines. The moment the power supply was restored and the man in hurry with one foot in water and one foot on the footboard of the Decker completed the earthing and electric circuit, the occupants and the man in hurry were thus electrocuted.

The couple and I were thanking our stars and bystanders were in awe of our providential escape.

A rectangular small notice board hung from the middle of the overhead wicket gate displayed in red “CAUTION Heavy vehicles including goods carrier and buses are not permitted to enter”.
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Thyagarajan said: ↑

The cruel hand of fate extinguished the lives of the driver, conductor and the man-in-hurry instantly.
Never had I seen a Decker passed or plying across this stretch of wicket gate.
Click to expand...

sln · Jan 9, 2020

Dear Thyagarajan,
Being a witness to death under tragic circumstances leaves an indelible scar in your memory.I faced a similar but different situation when I carried my neighbour[had an electric shock] and drove him down to the hospital.He died on the way and declared brought dead.His wife who was also in the car became hysterical and cried that I had killed her husband.I did not react understanding her state of mind and shock.I made sure that post mortem was done and all legal formalities were strictly complied with.My wife and I took her to the HR and MD of the company and explained her precarious situation with two school going children and managed to get good compensation based on eligibility and compassionate grounds.
You have vividly brought the scene before my eyes to make me respond in detail of a difficult situation I faced.
Regards SLN

Amulet · Jan 9, 2020

Cheeniya said: ↑

....You must now know how the jobless guys spend their time!
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OK... here is some fake etymology for you:
The phrase "hop in" used to describe getting into a conveyance may have come from the precaution not to (electrically) ground the highly charged vehicle by stepping into it from a rainy puddle.

Leap is very different from Hop.

Thyagarajan · Jan 9, 2020

sln said: ↑

Dear Thyagarajan,
Being a witness to death under tragic circumstances leaves an indelible scar in your memory.I faced a similar but different situation when I carried my neighbour[had an electric shock] and drove him down to the hospital.He died on the way and declared brought dead.His wife who was also in the car became hysterical and cried that I had killed her husband.I did not react understanding her state of mind and shock.I made sure that post mortem was done and all legal formalities were strictly complied with.My wife and I took her to the HR and MD of the company and explained her precarious situation with two school going children and managed to get good compensation based on eligibility and compassionate grounds.
You have vividly brought the scene before my eyes to make me respond in detail of a difficult situation I faced.
Regards SLN
Click to expand...

Dear sln,
Thank you. I am delighted to see you visiting this old thread.
2. What you had stated about being a witness to instant death is quite true indeed. That scene haunted me for quite long; and I even avoided that place for many months taking circuitous route to drive to Kandivali plant via Chembur diamond garden and highway near railway siding to fertiliser corporation in Chembur/Trombay.
3. I am glad to note you had acted humanely from the time of witnessing the accident till in securing a reasonable compensation from the corporate to the affected family.
4. I am hard-pressed for time and hence my responses are far and few between, short and delayed or late.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Regards.
God- the Almighty at close proximity to guide the old - human at heart, responsible in gestures, simple in living & high in thinking.

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