Mumbai:
The train had halted for long. And commuters were getting impatient. "Is something wrong," asked a commuter. Another thought it was the heavy rain.
But when the Borivli-bound local that had pulled into Santacruz station around 1.40 pm on Wednesday did not move for a good nine minutes, people got down to check what was wrong.
Usually, the guard rings the bell after about 15 seconds, signalling the motorman to pull out of the station.
"I heard a policeman say that the guard had fallen asleep in his cabin and therefore did not sound the bell," said a sales executive from Thane, Sanjay Sheth.
The Western Railway guard, Shreepal K (55), was on the train number 533 emblazoned on its outer wall and fell asleep mid way.
"Shreepal had been unwell. The doctor had recommended a syrup due to which he was drowsy and dozed off while at work," said another guard on condition of anonymity.
"Yes, the train had halted at the station for nine minutes but it was because of a technical reason," said Stationmaster of Santacruz, D S Verma.
Another guard told MiD DAY that their duty often stretched up to 13 hours. "Owing to staff shortage, we have to work for more than 16 hours at a stretch sometimes," he said.
Usually, the guard who is at the last compartment sounds a double bell, signaling the motorman, who is in the first compartment, to start the train.
The motorman acknowledges by ringing the bell twice and then the train leaves the platform. "In this case, the motorman kept waiting for the guard's bell, thus delaying the train," a guard said.
Shreepal's family members have told the authorities that he has malaria.
Western Railway Divisional Railway Manager Girish Pillai said, "Shreepal has told us he was unwell. He has now been sent for a medical examination.
Only if he is fine, he'll be put on duty, otherwise he will be transferred to some other department."