Drunk techie throws bench on rail tracks in Mumbai, held

MUMBAI: Desperating looking for a smoke after a late-night party with friends, an inebriated 30-year-old software engineer employed with an IT service management company entered Airoli station early on Sunday and pushed a police helpdesk bench on the tracks when maintenance work was on. The accused, who lives in Ghansoli, was arrested on the spot, even as the operator of a maintenance rake applied emergency brakes to avoid hitting the broken pieces of the bench on the tracks.
At the time of the incident, train operations were suspended for maintenance work.

“The youths were returning home after attending a birthday party and wanted to buy cigarettes. They were drunk,” said senior divisional security commissioner Sachin Bhalode. Around 1am, they accidentally entered the station looking for a tobacco shop. “Upset at not getting a cigarette, the accused pushed the bench on the tracks,” said an RPF officer. “On hearing a thud, RPF personnel rushed to the spot and nabbed him. His action could have caused an accident. Fortunately, the maintenance rake operator, Ravinder Chougule, applied emergency brakes else it would have crashed into the bench.”

The accused has been booked for endangering safety and damaging public property.