Govt employee dies after falling ill at Howrah metro station while using lift

A tragic incident unfolded at the Howrah Metro Station during the busy office hours on Tuesday, where a passenger collapsed and later died, allegedly due to a severe lack of on-site medical assistance. The deceased, identified as Biswajit Pakrashi, a 44-year-old Assistant Engineer with the state's electricity department, reportedly suffered from respiratory distress but could not be given oxygen as the station authorities, despite having a cylinder, did not have a connecting mask. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols and emergency response mechanisms at a major transit hub like the Howrah Metro Station.

Biswajit Pakrashi, a resident of Tribeni in Hooghly, was a regular commuter who worked at the Vidyut Bhaban in Salt Lake. With the recent inauguration of the Howrah to Salt Lake metro service, he had started using it for his daily commute. On Tuesday morning, as he was on his way to the platform via the lift, he suddenly fell ill.

A colleague of Pakrashi, who was also commuting through the same station, found him unwell inside the lift, surrounded by other concerned passengers. They immediately moved him to a room within the station premises. However, a major issue arose when repeated calls for help allegedly went unanswered by the metro staff. It was a critical time, as Pakrashi was reportedly struggling to breathe.

After a considerable delay, the Howrah Metro authorities managed to arrange for an oxygen cylinder. Shockingly, according to eyewitnesses, they lacked a mask to administer the oxygen. Compounding the issue, no police personnel were available to assist in the emergency. As a result, the victim lay without any medical attention for nearly 45 minutes, a crucial period during which his life could have been saved.

The lack of an ambulance further delayed getting him to a hospital. Finally, he was taken to the Howrah District Hospital in a private vehicle, where doctors, upon examination, declared him brought dead. The news of his death was then conveyed to his grieving family members in Tribeni.