PRASANT KUMAR DASH

Angul, May 14: A youth is spending days and nights in a tricycle for more than a year after losing both of his limbs in a train accident.

The man identified as Susant Naik who hails from Narayanchandrapur village under the Banarpal block in Angul district is living a miserable life on the tricycle, working as a watcher in a bike stand and struggling hard to remain alive.

Susant Naik, son of Kartika Naik was living a happy life with his family comprising his parents, spouse, a son and a daughter. He was earning his bread working as an artist and a colouring contractor. However, his happiness ended on December 4 in 2021, when he faced a fatal train accident. He was coming on a train from Angul to Talcher station to receive a fabulous bill against a project. Meanwhile, his legs slipped from the footrest of the train while he was de-boarding from a passenger train in Talcher railway station. Subsequently, he fell down on the track and the train ran over him.As a result, he lost his right hand and right leg.

Since then, Susant, the only earning hand of the family became a burden for his parents. Being a limbless guy he could neither work himself nor take up any colouring contract any more. Consequently, his family faced a financial crisis. Even the elderly parents, two kids and wife cried for two square meals a day, at least to live. Being concerned over the disability of the son, his father took challenges on his head and tried to feed the family members, climbing palm trees to pluck palm or crop palm leaves for wages. However, for his misfortune, he fell down from a tall palm tree while cutting palm leaves for a master and sustained injuries in his legs and backbone. As he could not be treated in time for his financial constraints, he lost his mobility for ever with a traumatic brain. Susant’s mother died with a heavy heart for the intolerable incidents came up for her family one after the other. At the same time, Susant’s wife left home with her kids to make them alive. While, the father and the son duo faced a new challenge as there was nobody to take care of them, even to cook meals for their existence. Getting no ways out, Susant attempted suicide while it was foiled by a local named Arun Naik who belongs to the same village. He gave patience to Susant and counselled to withstand every odd assuring four meals for the duo. However, he asked to watch his bike stand near the Talcher Road railway station. Since then, Susant has been watching the bike stand sitting in his tricycle till today. Most surprisingly, he is spending both day and night on the wheelchair and discharging his noble duty to his master. As an aid, his master Arun is assisting him to perform his daily works at the bike stand.

According to Susant, he had appealed to everybody whom he relied, to stand beside him at this misfortune, but in vain. He earnestly prayed the railway authorities, after he was discharged from the SCB Medical College and Hospital, after amputation of a hand and a leg for a financial assistance. Approached every pillar to post of the block and Collector’s Office for a few kilograms of rice for existence of his family members, but in vain. Only the Banarpal block officials  offered a wheelchair after the mishap.

Responding to the distress of the 38-year old artist, Bhogaberini Sarpanch has assured him to include him under the Antyodaya Yojana and to recommend for disability pension for Susant.

If the district administration helps him out by recommending to the Railway authorities to sanction an ex-gratia, he may be able to build a shelter over his head.