A police officer’s lightning-quick reactions saved the life of a toddler who had been dragged under a train at an Indian railway station.
Maharashtra Security Force jawan Sachin Pol leapt into action to save the save the five-year-old’s life after she slipped out of her mother’s grasp while boarding a carriage.
Little more than two seconds passed between when the girl fell under the train and the moment the officer pulled her to safety.
Mr Pol himself narrowly avoided being dragged onto the tracks as the train pulled away from the platform at Mahalaxmi station in Mumbai on Friday.
Mohammad Dishaan, the child’s father, said his wife was new to the city and was unaware of how quickly trains in the area accelerated away from stops.
“I was walking ahead and she was holding our daughter’s hand. The train was stationary when we went to board it, but then it started moving and picked up speed,” he told the Mumbai Mirror.
“I will be eternally grateful to the man who saved my daughter’s life.”
Both the officer and the toddler suffered minor injuries in the accident and were given first aid at the station, the newspaper added.
Mr Pol has reportedly been working for the security force for around two years, earning a salary of Rs 14,000 a month (£150).
A K Singh, principal chief security commissioner of Western Railway said the officer was in line for a raise or a hefty bonus as a result of his actions.
“He will be rewarded suitably”, he added.
