MUMBAI: A heated argument inside a local train compartment between her father and “husband” ended with a 17-year-old girl jumping off the train between Vasai Road and Nalasopara stations on Saturday evening. While she survived with a leg fracture, her 25-year-old “husband”, who jumped right after her, fell on his head and died en route to the hospital.
Sudha (name changed as she is a minor), a Class X student, and Jayesh, who was into his family business, were neighbours in Kurar village in Malad (east). Despite family opposition, they reportedly got married three days ago, and moved into a rental flat in Nalasopara.
While both families denied that the couple was married, Sudha, in her statement to the police said they had got married in a temple.
“We did not register a missing person’s complaint with the police as we knew she had eloped with Jayesh,” said Sudha’s father, who rushed back to the city from his hometown.
As the couple fell short of cash to pay the rent, Sudha asked one of her cousins for help. The cousin informed her father that the couple had rented a place at Nalasopara. On Saturday, both their parents and a few relatives landed up at the Nalasopara flat, promised to get them married at the “right time” and convinced them to return home.
The group took a train to return to Malad. But as the train approached Bhayander, Jayesh and Sudha’s father got into an argument. Upset, the couple got off at Bhayander station and boarded another train to return to Nalasopara. Their families, too, followed them.
As Jayesh and the teenager’s father continued arguing, Sudha got upset and stood at the footboard, next to her uncle, after the train left Vasai Road station around 7.15pm. Suddenly, she jumped off the train near pole number 51/16-17 between Vasai and Nalasopara. Panchal, who was sitting with the two families, saw Sudha leap out. He ran to the door and jumped out behind her. Even as the two families watched in horror, other commuters pulled the emergency chain.
Government Railway Police personnel found the two lying about 250 metres apart on the tracks and took them to the nearby Ravi Hospital. Sudha, who was conscious, realized that Jayesh had also jumped off the train behind her when she saw him in the ambulance. He, however, succumbed to head injuries en route to the hospital. The teenager, who fractured her right leg, was later shifted to Bhagwati Hospital in Borivli.
The Vasai GRP registered a case of accidental death, but did not book the two for attempt to suicide. The GRP handed over Jayesh’s body to his family after a post-mortem, said inspector P S Bhangare.
