'Suffered For 3 Hours': Medical Aid Delayed, Differently Abled Cricketer Dies On Gwalior Train
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Shortly after the train departed, Vikram Singh started complaining of intense pain. His condition deteriorated rapidly as the train approached Mathura.
A tragic incident unfolded onboard the Chhattisgarh Express after a disabled cricketer allegedly died while travelling from Delhi to Gwalior to participate in a wheelchair cricket tournament. The deceased player, identified as 38-year-old Vikram Singh, a wheelchair-bound cricketer from Punjab, was en route to participate in the Gwalior Divyang Cricket Tournament when his health suddenly detiorated during the journey.
Despite repeated calls to the railway helpline, no medical team reached him in time, and Singh died before the train could reach Mathura station.
According to his teammates, Singh had boarded the Chhattisgarh Express along with other team members from Hazrat Nizamuddin station late Wednesday night. Shortly after the train departed, he started complaining of intense pain. His condition deteriorated rapidly as the train approached Mathura.
A fellow player said that an SOS call was made to the railway helpline at 4:58 am, urgently requesting medical assistance. However, despite repeated calls and pleas, no medical team arrived in time.
The train reportedly halted for over an hour and a half before reaching Mathura station. By the time it pulled into the platform around 8:10 am, Vikram Singh had succumbed to his condition. He was in pain in front of our eyes. We kept calling for help, but it never came, said one of his grieving teammates.
Upon arrival at Mathura Junction, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel removed Vikram's body from the train and sent it for postmortem. The GRP has begun formal procedures, while railway authorities have ordered an internal inquiry into the delay.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the emergency response system on Indian Railways. 'This is not just a tragedy but a glaring reminder of the gaps in our railway medical emergency response," said a senior player accompanying Vikram.
Following this tragic incident, several disability rights activists and sporting community have questioned the preparedness of Indian Railways to assist differently-abled passengers during emergencies, especially when timely intervention can be the difference between life and death.
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 13:47 IST
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