Aspirations of Train Tragedy Survivors

The June 2 Odisha train accident was a disastrous collision involving three trains that resulted in 294 deaths and left a large number of injuries. It is considered the deadliest rail disaster worldwide since the 2004 Sri Lankan tsunami train wreck. This tragic occurrence showed the remarkable bravery of survivors in addition to exposing flaws in railway safety. One of them, Gautam Kumar, demonstrates firm courage to keep going with his education and rebuild his life despite suffering severe injuries.

Gautam Kumar, a 17-year-old from the Bihar village of Rasonk, was undergoing treatment at Cuttack’s SCB Medical College and Hospital, accompanied by his mother Nirmala and brother Vikash. Despite having a head injury, Gautam occasionally smiles. Just days before boarding a ‘prestigious’ train to Chennai, he recalls dancing at his brother’s wedding on May 28. Gautam had received the highest marks in his intermediate exam, and in September, he hoped to move to Patna for coaching. He had plans to work as a daily wage laborer, save money, and spend his weekly days off visiting Chennai’s most popular sites before he began pursuing more serious studies.

Gautam and his fellow villagers boarded the crowded general compartment of the Coromandel Express traveling to Chennai. They were unable to find seats, so they ended up standing by the door for four hours while enjoying the fast-paced journey. A week later, Gautam found himself in a hospital bed with his left leg amputated. He responded with confidence when asked if he would continue studying, “I may not pursue science, but I will study for sure”, he answered to Kahnu Behura (lead volunteer, CYSD)

On the other side of this heartbreaking story, we come across Bulti Khatoon, a wife who has spent 20 days next to her unconscious husband, Sk Khokan, in the neurosurgery ICU of Cuttack’s SCB Medical. She was temporarily living on the hospital floor, with a bedsheet as a bed and a plastic bag as a pillow, this represents her will to overcome this challenge. Khokan is one of the severely hurt passengers from the same train accident on June 2.

Despite the intense heat and humidity, Bulti remains calm. Bulti excitedly awaits the day when she can feed Khokan real fruits and food he likes instead of having to use nasogastric tubes to provide him with nutrition.  Their younger son’s desire to attend school must wait while Khokan keeps his promise to go back home and fix their leaky roof.

Financial difficulties continued even after the government’s assistance. They were unable to cash the cheques. Similar struggles were found in the accounts of other victims at the hospital, as witnessed by CYSD’s lead volunteer, Madhusudan Das. In an effort to alleviate some of the financial burden of Gautam Kumar and Sk Khokan’s attendants at the hospital, CYSD also provided Rs.7000 and Rs. 5000, respectively so that they could meet their basic needs and transit expenses to go back home.

These stories of two families affected by the Odisha train disaster showcase the strength of the human spirit. Their dreams may be temporarily crushed, but their hopes remain intact.