VU3GFD OM S.Ahmed was the hero during the mishap of Hyderabad-bangalore, Kacheguda Express on 21st December, 2002. Being a Ham who had volunteered during the Orissa Cyclone Relief Work through Bangalore Amateur Radio Club, he used his skill and experience to save lives and limbs of many co-passengers on the ill-fated train. A first hand account of his experience is given below in his own words: -
I was in the ill-fated train coming from Kacheguda to Bangalore on 21st December, 2002 in coach S4 sleeping on the upper berth. There was a massive jerk and heavy sound at about 12:45 AM and the train started rocking back and forth with heavy noise and leaning towards the left side, I immediately jumped from my berth put on my shoes and the first instinct was to open the door, I manage to open the door and the train was violently vibrating there was a lady sleeping at the lower berth with a baby of may be one year and due to the jerks and moments the lady fell down. I was able to keep my leg to support and stop the kid from falling down after the train came to halt was not able to see anything outside due to heavy smoke and dust my compartment had inclined towards the left by about 45 degree roughly.
There was lot of commotion, shouting and screaming in the compartment. I had to shout with all my capacity to tell people that we are safe there is no problem and they can first get down from the compartment later we can pickup the luggage.
I got down from the compartment and saw that all bogies ahead of us had derailed only engine was standing and the driver had put on the front light and continues horn. I checked on my mobile for signal which was very weak but able to connect to my brother Saleem informing him about the derailment after telling him that I was safe. I also told him that I am going in for relief as there was massive commotion screaming, shouting, yelling and crying from the compartment which had turned turtle, upside down, climbed on one and another etc.
First I went to see the Engine Driver who was in the state of shock and could not speak at all, and then I took a bird eye view of destruction. The train had actually fallen in a gradient just before a bridge, which was 12.6 Meters (very sure since there was a board mentioning the height).
Two compartments S1 & S2 had rammed into each other and S1 has rammed S14 in the back pushing S14 above the luggage Van and had flipped to one side. S14 was badly jammed from the backside and hanging or rather dangling at a height of about 10 to 12 feet above ground level. Both the doors were jammed and people trying to move backwards as they feared that the bogie will take a nose dive if they come forward. There was no way to actually open the door, only possible way was to climb on top of the wreckage and get on S14 and open the door which was not only difficult but dangerous too.
I climbed back on my compartment was jumping through the wreckage when I saw that S3 doors were also sealed and people inside were in panic. I happen to notice that the vestibule opening was open and people could glide through the opening. I screamed to inform the people inside that they can get out through the vestibule later realizing that they did not understand what I said. I pointed out to them the opening and people started sliding out of that.
When I reached S14 compartment, my mobile was ringing and there was a call from South Central Railway Control Room asking for the details about the accident.
I was able to kick open the door and open from the top and get into the compartment. When I opened the other door, and was wondering how we could vacate the compartment a few Malyalee boys were standing and watching the proceedings. I called those boys and told them to hold people below but in the panic two middle aged women jumped from the door and got fractured legs, was able to vacate total compartment and throw all the luggage down.
There were some very seriously injured persons in the compartment was able to vacate all of them barring the last 6 people in the compartment as it was fully stuck from all sides after I got down from that compartment was wondering how I will be able to rescue there six people trapped on all sides by metal but was able to see that all were alive in pain through the window grills. I searched for a stone and started hitting one end of the frill and was sure it will give away as it was only welded after about 5 to 10 min the single grill gave way and with help of the others was able to pull away that window but the new challenge facing us was how to remove people who were stuck inside as there was no support from the other end. Three people and three berth sandwiched on one end and the other side three people and three berth. It was not possible to pull person as we didi not know how seriously they were injured, but after about 15 minutes was able to get them out. Only 2 were alive, 4 died after taking them out.
When we saw that all compartments had been vacated other then the General Compartment which was badly mangled up and not possible to open the same. It had to be cut open was able to only console and tell that we are opening up the carriage and will take same time.
In meantime had asked those sports girls to take down the telephone numbers and names of the seriously injured passengers separately for Bangalore & Hyderabad. I call my brother and gave him the list and inform their relatives to start immediately to the accident site.
Also look numbers of people who were safe and informed there families, managed to arrange for a couple of doctors form the other coaches who were of great help, bedsheets from the A.C. coach were used as bandages and blankets made as stretchers to transport grievously injured people.
There was lot of help from the co-passengers, who were listening and doing what was told to them. It was truly “A trump of Humanism in tragedy”.
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