Specially-abled Pb cricketer on way to tourney in MP dies on train
Agra: Vikram Singh, 38, a differently-abled cricketer en route to Gwalior from Delhi on board the Chhattisgarh Express train to participate in a wheelchair cricket tourney, died on Wednesday morning allegedly due to a delay in receiving medical assistance despite an emergency call.
Vikram -- a player of Punjab wheelchair cricket team -- hailed from Pohir village in Malerkotla district of Punjab. His health deteriorated after the train left Delhi and he died before he could reach Mathura junction. Doctors in Mathura confirmed "his death upon arrival", and the railways ordered a probe on Thursday.
GRP inspector Yadram Singh acknowledged that a distress call had been made, but stated that Vikram died during the journey.
"A probe has been ordered. There are arrangements for a doctor and medical aid at all major stations. This facility is available at Mathura junction and Agra Cantt station in Agra division," said Prashasti Srivastava, PRO, divisional railway manager, Agra.
Srivastava said, "In the complaint via 'Rail madad', the passenger had mentioned headache and anxiety. The Rail madad control -- operating round the clock -- then promptly contacted the individual..."
A teammate, Raja, alleged "negligence", saying "no medical team boarded the train during a long halt at Ajhai station ahead of Mathura junction". According to him, Vikram had boarded the train along with five teammates around 4:30am in Delhi. He started feeling unwell soon after the train departure, and his colleagues dialled the railway emergency helpline '139' at 4:58am. A call back was received within minutes assuring treatment at Mathura junction, but "no one arrived".
He died around 8:10am.
Captain of the Madhya Pradesh wheelchair team, Kabir Singh, said, "Vikram was to take part in the 7th Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Memorial T10 Championship, organised by the Madhya Pradesh Wheelchair Cricket Association, from June 5 to 9."
"Vikram's family declined to conduct a postmortem and took custody of the body after submitting a written consent," said a GRP officer.
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