Students of the school in Mumbai dangerously cross the tracks without a footbridge.
Highlights
- School students in Mumbai cross the tracks dangerously
- Their efforts to have a footbridge constructed have failed
- Students have written an open letter to Railway Minister on Facebook
For hundreds of students of a school in Central Mumbai, the journey from and back to home involves risking their lives every day.
Having exhausted all possible ways to get a footbridge constructed connecting Deonar to Mankhurd, the students of Kumud Vidya Mandir have written to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Facebook. Their heartfelt plea: "Uncle, save us!"
Posted by the students on Facebook, their open letter, accompanied with pictures, give a glimpse into the dangerous situation.
"Sometimes while crossing the tracks, if two trains come from opposite directions, we cannot see if there is a train approaching from the other parallel track as well. This is very dangerous. Besides, we get late for school as we have to wait for a while to cross the tracks," a student who crosses the tracks daily to reach school told NDTV.
Locals claim, nine accidents resulting in five deaths, have been reported along the stretch this year alone.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had ordered Central Railway in 2013, to build an overhead bridge. But two years later, only the foundation for the bridge was laid out. Central Railway has now assured residents that the overhead bridge will be completed by March 2017.
"Railway started work three months ago. We will finish construction by March 2017," said AK Jain, spokesperson of Central Railway.