Kerala youth dies after collapsing on train, family alleges Railways negligence over ambulance delay

In an incident that has sparked outrage, a 32-year-old man from Chalakudy in Thrissur, Kerala, died after collapsing on a train when no ambulance was available in time to rush him to the hospital. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday aboard the Mumbai–Ernakulam Okha Express.

Sreejith, a native of Maramkodu, Chalakudy, reportedly complained of chest pain and collapsed soon after the train passed Shoranur. Fellow passengers alerted the TTE, who halted the train at the Mulangunnathukavu railway station. Despite repeated calls to emergency helplines, no ambulance reached the station for over 30 minutes during which Sreejith lay on the platform. By the time an ambulance finally arrived and he was taken to the Thrissur Medical College Hospital, he was declared dead.

Delay due to late-night timing: Railways

Following public anger, the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division issued a statement expressing regret over the “unfortunate incident.”

The statement claimed that railway officials had acted promptly to arrange an ambulance but that delays occurred because of the late-night timing. It further added that the train was scheduled to proceed to Thrissur, where medical aid had been arranged, but some passengers pulled the emergency chain, causing further delays.

However, Sreejith’s family has strongly refuted the railway’s version. “It takes barely 10 minutes for an ambulance to reach the Thrissur Medical College Hospital from the Mulangunnathukavu railway station. A doctor travelling in the same coach had already warned officials about Sreejith’s critical condition,” a family member said.