Page 23 - Seniors Today - April Issue
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loaded in a open wagon were despatched a stretcher lying nearby converted the area
as such. But the loading of full coach body around him into a temporary dispensary.
in a open wagon was difficult. Even if such The doctor gave him some tablets and
loading was done, the curvature and the advised him to go to Kalyan hospital. This
tunnel would have made the movement was the maximum which was expected
difficult. It was therefore decided to replace from the doctor. After the patient left him,
the damaged bogies. The coach design is a what he shared was in contrast to what I
simply supported structure on the bogies had felt. He said that the injured would not
with a male female joint. The coach was survive. This was a depressing since the
needed to be raised quite high to replace injured had worked under me during my
the bogies. Temporary support of several previous posting and knew him personally.
wooden blocks one over the other was The doctor’s words came true within a week.
taken. It was to be an unending effort with Good is a good doctor but bad is sometimes
uncertain result. The tunnel base is never correct.
in one plane. A side drain is needed for the My right toe was slightly injured in the
rainwater which is below the rail level. The melee due to toppling of the coach. I was
wooden blocks for support were therefore not required to monitor this activity. I had
critically balanced. They were like a card volunteered and had no right to complain
pyramid, ready to fall down any moment. about the injury, volenti non fit injuria. The
Slowly, the coach was lifted almost to its doctor being my friend, bandaged my toe
desired height. The removal of this coach without my request. The toe now looked
was a bottleneck for the rest of the operation double of its size. I now got the attention of
and therefore lot many staff did not have people around me. It was a false exhibit of
any immediate work. They gathered around myself going extra mile, Suppressio veri,
the coach having nothing better to do. suggestio falsi!
One of the breakdown staff watched the I joined the team with the decoration of
operation, by standing between the tunnel bandage on my toe.
wall and the lifted coach. It was somewhat The news of this accident had reached the
ludicrous as he was not required to stand medical department and they hurriedly
there. Suddenly, the coach and the packing despatched additional medical help and
below collapsed like a pyramid of cards. He removed the injured to the hospital. The
got trapped with back to tunnel surface. He portmanteau of medicines received was
was rescued immediately and appeared in promptly opened by the doctor who
no danger. Lot of officers gathered around took out a jelly like medicine from it. He
him and all asked him to see the doctor at signalled me to come closer, removed the
site. He got lot of attention; he therefore bandage over my toe and put the jelly over
basked due to officers’ favour, talked a lot, it. With a small injury to my toe, I could
balked due to ballast, and finally walked to walk pompously and now with the jelly the
the doctor. The doctor was my friend and injury mark almost vanished. I expected a
therefore I too went to him. The doctor was bandage over my toe for my swagger which
not rated medically very high. He examined the doctor could not understand and said
him, asking him to remove the clothes above that the jelly was very effective and nothing
his waist. Two site chairs, a medical box and more was needed. What was help for him
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #22 | APRIL 2021 23
