The Ministry of Railways has announced an award of ₹50,000 for Mayur Shelke, a Central Railway employee who saved a six-year-old boy by risking his own life.
Mr. Shelke's daredevilry in rescuing the child moments before a train streaked past was captured in a CCTV video which won the Internet.
Principal executive director of the Railway Board informed the Central Railway's General Manager by a letter about the award for Shelke's "act of bravery, courage and presence of mind".
"Shelke in absolute disregard of his own life rescued the child by running in face of the oncoming train and lifted the child to safety by placing him on the platform," read the letter.
A pointsman in Mumbai Division of Central Railway, Mayur Shelke, who saved the life of a child at Vangani Railway Station being felicitated at CSMT, in Mumbai, Monday, April 19, 2021. | Photo Credit: PTI
The incident took place at Vangani station near Mumbai, where Mr. Shelke is posted as a pointsman, on April 17.
Shelke spotted a boy who had fallen onto the tracks and was in the way of an oncoming train.
He jumped down, ran towards the boy and hauled him onto the platform before pulling himself up. Two seconds later, the train sped past.
CCTV footage of the heart-stopping incident went viral on social media.
Central Railway authorities have already felicitated Shelke for his act of bravery.