Arun Kumar, a 28-year-old man, lost his left hand after falling from a moving train

CHENNAI: A 28-year-old man from Nellore lost his left hand after falling from a moving train near Basin Bridge on Saturday night.
Police, who identified the injured man as Arun Kumar, said he was travelling on the footboard of a crowded unreserved coach at the time and was drunk. He was taken to the Govt Stanley Medical College and Hospital where his condition is said to be critical.

An officer said Arun Kumar came to Chennai to attend a friend’s wedding. After the event, he boarded the Dhanbad Express, which was arriving from Alleppey, at Chennai Central. As he did not have a confirmed ticket, he entered the unreserved coach, which was packed, and sat on the footboard steps.
As the train was between Basin Bridge and Korukkupet. Arun lost balance and fell onto the tracks, resulting in the severing of his left hand. Alerted, railway staff halted the train and rushed him to Stanley Govt Hospital.
Police investigations revealed that Arun Kumar was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
This is not the first such case near Basin Bridge. On March 23 last year, Abdul Kareem of Vaniyambadi lost a leg and an arm after falling from a train when a 15-year-old boy snatched his mobile phone. The boy was later sent to an observation home.
Railway authorities have repeatedly warned passengers against footboard travel, especially in overcrowded compartments.