Agartala, Jan 06, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Jan 06: Active support of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) came as a blessing for a helpless family from Tripura stranded in Andhra Pradesh following the tragic death of one of its members in a running train.

Sanjib Debnath (47) of Noagaon Krishnagar along with three members of his family went to the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad for treatment on December 28 last. On the return journey, they started for Howrah in a train. When they crossed Vijayawada station, Debnath died in the running train.

As a result, the three persons- two females and one minor boy, who were accompanying Debnath, became helpless as they were already in a financial problem.

Finding no other option, they communicated the matter with the Office of the Tripura Chief Minister. Soon after the information reached the CMO, Officer on Special Duty Pranabananda Sarkar Banerjee brought the matter to the knowledge of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha.

As he was instructed to take necessary steps for helping the helpless family, the OSD immediately tweeted the matter along with necessary details and contact number; he tagged the official handle of #RailwaySeva and Railways Minister Aswini Vaishnav seeking assistance.

There was a response from ‘Rail Seva’ within minutes and the matter was then referred to #RailMadad for necessary steps. In the meantime, Narayan Jhintra, private secretary to the Union Railways Minister, had a telephonic discussion with the OSD to Tripura CM over the issue. He also contacted Ved Prakash, OSD to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for making necessary arrangements.

The stranded family was then asked by a railway official- DRM to get off the train at Rajahmundry station. As the family got off at Rajahmundry, a doctor came and certified the man dead. The body was then sent to a local hospital for post mortem while the family was stranded. As the family was unable to bring the body back to Agartala due to financial reasons, it was cremated there following the assistance received from Andhra Pradesh administration. Director of IT Naresh Babu also managed to send Rs. 13,000 to the family for last rites.

Besides, the family was also provided accommodation for night stay and train ticket for returning home.

Finally, the family boarded a train for Howrah and food packets were arranged for them. Accommodation has also been arranged at Tripura Bhavan, Kolkata.

The OSD expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Railways, Andhra Pradesh Andhra administration, particularly Ved Pradesh and Senior DCM Ram Babu and RPF Head Constable Rishi Deb at Rajahmundry Railway Station for extending help to this family. He also said, the train passengers facing any issue may tweet to #RailwaySeva for instant help.