RPF - The Unsung Heroes Saving Lives On India's Railway Stations

Railway Protection Force, came into existence on 27 July, 1984. Commonly referred to as the RPF is a security force of the Indian Railways with the primary purpose to protect the railway passengers, passenger area and railway property. RPF is responsible for smooth functioning of railways. RPF comes under the authority of Ministry of Indian Railways and has the right to arrest, investigate and prosecute criminals.

While there is no dearth of freak accidents, sometimes people are lucky enough to be surrounded by courageous people such as the soldiers of the Railway Protection Force. In one year, there have been several cases where people have escaped grievous injuries thanks to the assistance of RPF :

1. A Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel's timely intervention saved the life of a 43-year-old man.

Alertness of #RPF constable DK Yadav saves life of a passenger at Medinipur railway station. Great job Mr Yadav. #WestBengal @serailwaykol @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/uU69XuQJ92

¡ª Hemant Kumar Rout (@TheHemantRout) February 22, 2020

Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Dharmendra Yadav's timely intervention saved the life of a Sujoy Ghosh, a resident of Barbetia in Kharagpur Rural who slipped and fell while trying to board a train, in West Bengal's Midnapore railway station. CCTV footage of the platform showed Ghosh getting dragged by the train and stairs of coaches hitting him on his head and legs. Ghosh was about to be hit by the steel stairs of another coach when the alert RPF constable, Dharmendra Yadav, pulled him out by his legs.

2. RPF personnel saved a woman who slipped on tracks while boarding the train in Bhubaneshwar.

.@RailMinIndia commendable act of courage and swiftness shown by RPF constable Subrat Kumar Maharana in rescuing a lady passenger who had fallen while trying to board a train at Bhubaneswar. @rpfecor1 @DRMKhurdaroad pic.twitter.com/g0hWMyQr93

¡ª EAST COAST Railway (@eastcoastrail) February 15, 2020

Earlier this month Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Subrat Kumar Maharana saved the life of Nibedita Sahoo who lost her balance and slipped into the gap between the train and the platform, while trying to board the Puri-Sambalpur intercity express, which was on the move in Bhubaneshwar.

Reacting within a fraction of a second, Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable who was deputed on the platform ran towards her and pulled her out of the gap.

3. Brave RPF soldier saves man who slipped from moving train.

We request our esteemed passengers not to board a moving train at platform. RPF Staff saved the life of this Passenger at Ahemdabad station but one may not be so lucky everytime. pic.twitter.com/iHpLFKm4ba

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 27, 2019

Of the two passengers at Ahmedabad station, only one managed to board the moving train, while the other fell and ended up slipping under the train. He lost his grip and got dragged along the train. Without wasting any time, an RPF personnel posted at the station noticed the man and rushed to save him.

4. Man slipped while trying to board moving train lives to tell the tale.

Viral video: RPF officers rescue man after he slips while trying to board moving train https://t.co/o4pOVZCxRv pic.twitter.com/ch9qd36cux

¡ª The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) September 25, 2019

A similar incident happened in Ahmadabad again when a passenger who thought he could board a moving train plays with his life. He ended up misjudging his jump and gets caught on the bogey door. The RPF soldiers standing nearby see this and successfully push him inside the train. If hadn't rushed to save him, the ending could have been fatal.

5. RPF head constable saves baby dangling from moving train in Bengaluru.

Brave Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel Mohammad Kutty saved the life of a baby from a moving train at KR Puram railway station in Bengaluru on September 12. The constable, however, sustained some injuries while trying to save the baby.

An unidentified woman carrying luggage in one hand and a two- or three-year-old child in another hand ran towards the train. She managed to board the moving train, but she lost her balance. The child was dangling from her hand and about to fall under the train. Kutty immediately ran towards the spot and pushed the dangling child inside the train

6. Brave RPF constable dies saving three from being crushed under a train.

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Braveheart Constable Jagbir Singh Rana made the supreme sacrifice while saving a couple and some children from being crushed under a train in Delhi on April 2019. The government posthumously awarded him the Police Medal for Gallantry.

7. A passenger & RPF officer save a woman from being crushed under the train.

#WATCH: A passenger rescued from falling by another passenger & a Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, while she was trying to board a train at Malad Railway Station in Mumbai. (22.02.19) pic.twitter.com/sjCHvqnCxi

¡ª ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2019

In an incident on Feb, 2019 when a woman narrowly escaped being crushed under a moving train.

The video shows a woman being almost dragged along the train as a passenger and an RPF personnel rush to help her. If they had not caught her in time, there was a good chance she would have slipped onto the tracks.

8. Brave Hyderabad RPF constable saves man from getting crushed between train and platform

#WATCH Hyderabad: Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel saves a man from being pulled under a moving train at Nampally Railway Station. #Telangana (29.08.19) pic.twitter.com/IjHhFC0JAE

¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2019

A middle-aged man had a miraculous escape after he slipped into the gap between a train and the platform at a railway station in Hyderabad.

The video shows the chilling moment when the Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable is seen running after the man who clings to a speeding train and gets dragged along the platform. But, the constable manages to hold on the train and pulls the man out of the platform gap. Thankfully, the passenger only sustained minor injuries.

9. 60-year-old saved by two RPF officers at Gaya station.

Life of this 60 year old person, who fell down while boarding a moving train no 12308 at Gaya, could be saved due to alertness and promptness of two on duty RPF staff Sh. Dilip and Sh. Avinash.

PLEASE DO NOT BOARD OR ALIGHT A MOVING TRAIN, IT CAN PROVE FATAL !! pic.twitter.com/6QBGNL1NrY

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 13, 2020

Life of this 60-year-old man, who fell down while boarding a moving train no 12308 at Gaya, could be saved due to alertness and promptness of two on-duty RPF staff Sh. Dilip and Sh. Avinash.

10. RPF personnel saved a woman at Purulia station, West Bengal.

Narrow Escape : While boarding Ranchi-Howrah Exp from Purulia station, a lady slipped and came in between the PF edge & train wheels. Her life saved due to prompt action by the alert RPF staff.
NEVER ATTEMPT TO BOARD OR ALIGHT A MOVING TRAIN !!
IT IS UNSAFE !! pic.twitter.com/Gc57lZFRW3

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) December 8, 2019

A woman slipped and fell in between the platform edge & train wheels while boarding Ranchi-Howrah Exp from Purulia station. Her life was saved due to prompt action by the alert RPF staff.

11. Man crossing train tracks was saved by RPF staff at Thane railway station.

Alertness and agility of RPF staff & Loco pilot saved the life of a passenger, trying to cross the track in an illegal way, at Thane Railway Station.
Please use FOB or Escalator for moving from one platform to another. Indian Railways is concerned about your personal safety. pic.twitter.com/V6v69LMJTX

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) December 6, 2019

12. At Howrah station a passenger slipped and started getting dragged along by the moving train. He was saved by a RPF constable.

Today at Howrah station one passenger while trying to board an empty moving rake of local train slipped and started dragging.He was pulled swiftly by the alert on duty RPF constable. We appeal to our passengers not to attempt to board or deboard a moving train. It may prove fatal pic.twitter.com/ekSCfqpNVn

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 2, 2019

13. A passenger while boarding a moving train slipped and almost fell. The alert RPF constable P. V. Jayan quickly pushed him inside the coach.

Alert RPF constable's instinct saved a passenger's life! On 26.10.2019, at Coimbatore Station, a passenger while boarding a moving train no 56712, slipped. On duty constable Sri.P.V.Jayan quickly pushed the person inside the coach. PLEASE DONT ATTEMPT TO ENTRAIN A MOVING TRAIN. pic.twitter.com/BtTH4ERYLV

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) October 28, 2019

14. RPF constable Manish Kumar didn't let go of a man who had stumbled while trying to alight a moving train.

On 16.09.2019 at Manmad Station, one passenger fell down between platform and moving train while boarding running train no 15018 Kashi exp. RPF constable Manish Kumar Singh, who was patrolling, quickly acted & pulled him away from the moving train and saved his life. pic.twitter.com/fq5Y0tF54o

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 17, 2019

15. RPF constable NB Rao saved a man at Bhubaneswar station.

#WATCH Odisha: Railway Protection Force (RPF) Constable NB Rao saves a man, at Bhubaneswar railway station, who had fallen off a train on the platform yesterday. pic.twitter.com/AqeSKtFEGs

¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2019

16. A senior citizen's life was saved by RPF Sub Inspector K P Singh at Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station. The passenger lost his balance and fell while boarding a train.

LIFE SAVED : On 23.06.19, one senior citizen passenger slipped in between edge of Plarform no 4 & moving train 12280 Taj Express during boarding at Hz. Nizamuddin Railway Station. Indian Railways is proud of RPF Sub Inspector K P Singh, who pulled him out & saved a human life. pic.twitter.com/FXcmSxfQl9

¡ª Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 24, 2019