77-Year-Old Dies After Falling on Escalator in India

A 77-year-old man succumbed to injuries after falling on an escalator at Pune Railway Station in Pune, India, Pune Pulse reported on April 11. The man was traveling to Nagpur with his family when he lost his balance stepping onto the moving escalator. After he fell, his family members called out for help, but eyewitnesses reported that no immediate help was given. His wife said, “It was only after a significant delay that two strangers and eventually two railway policemen responded.” The man was admitted to a local hospital and then transferred to a private hospital where he died after nine days of specialized treatment. The incident triggered widespread concern and criticism of the apparent lack of emergency response and support for elderly individuals from advocacy groups that are now calling for urgent reforms, including improved accessibility features, trained staff and quicker emergency response mechanisms at railway stations.