getting under the train - escape without a scratch ... cellphone speaking !!

Volumes are being written on the ‘cell phone speaking’ madness of people – while on road, walking, driving and unconcerned of whatever is happening around them.  The other day, the vehicle driver halted hurriedly as a man with ears plugged crossed the road unmindful of the passing vehicles. More than couple yelled and shouted expletives in anger – yet, the man crossed unhurriedly virtually not knowing that he was the centre of distraction ! – such things are not rare and are becoming daily routine in many places. Worse is the railway crossings at suburbs – people cross the track not caring to look before you cross, engrossed in talking  or listening to music.  There have been accidents, some have lost their lives too….yet, nobody listens.

The other day, when a biker almost rammed on to a girl crossing the road speaking on a telephone – she replied – ‘it was an important call, and I had to take’ !!  In July 2011 I had posted the luck of a young software professional who went under a suburban train – despite six compartment rakes passing over her at Saidapet, she escaped without bruises.   It was reported that in noon, at the the platform, her bag fell on the floor and in bending to pick up with one hand (with the other she was till talking on mobile), she slipped and fell on the track – Tambaram bound EMU ran over her – but she could lie flatly on the track and escaped unhurt.  Seemingly unbelievable but true story…..

Now a very similar one – this time off an Italian teen ager as reported in mail online on 14^th Oct 2014.   If you've ever wondered whether you can lie beneath a train and let it rumble over you, here is your answer. An Italian teenager filmed himself lying down between the rails of tracks in Perugia, Umbria, as a diesel train hurtled over him at high speed. He then stood up and, clearly in the throes of an adrenaline rush, raised both arms in triumph and punched the air.

 The teenager's name is not known, and it is not known if he faced any consequences for his plainly illegal stunt. His brazen attitude towards the potential lethal situation is remarkable. It was not even an accident as it is reported that he laid down on the  track mere seconds before the train hurtled past, flicking his hands in a 'come on' gesture.  What do you say of such people ? – misplaced adventurism !!

In another incident an incredible moment was captured at the Grand National Cross Country event in Ohio – when a man who was about to be struck by crashing motocross rider jumped over bike and carried on talking on his cellphone like nothing happened.  Footage of the event posted on Facebook showed the driver making a jump and then landing on the other side of a creek bank, where they begin to slide on the wet mud. The busy man was shown stumbling  after the jump but quickly putting  himself together and continuing to talk on the phone without so much as a 'phew'.

Strange are the ways of people

With regards – S. Sampathkumar