Anand Runwal dies in tragic Sydney train station accident
Fatal Sydney train station accident death of Anand Runwal – Obituary
A tragic incident at a Sydney train station claimed the life of Anand Runwal, a devoted father who attempted to rescue his twin daughters when their pram rolled onto the tracks.
The harrowing event occurred around 12:25 p.m. on Sunday at Carlton train station, located in Sydney’s southern suburbs.
As commuters watched in shock, the pram carrying the two-year-old twins slipped onto the railway tracks.
In a courageous effort to save his children, 40-year-old Anand Runwal jumped onto the tracks but was struck by an oncoming train, resulting in the death of both himself and one of the twins.
Runwal, along with his wife Poonam, had relocated from India to Sydney in October 2023 following his employment with an IT company in North Sydney.
Witness Lauren Langelaar, who was working nearby, rushed to the scene after hearing the mother’s desperate cries for help.
She described how, despite the severity of the situation, the surviving twin, who had been under the train, emerged with minimal injuries and was quickly reunited with her grieving mother. The child was discharged from the hospital the following morning.
Langelaar recounted the chaos of the scene, including her attempts to assist the mother and restrain her as emergency services searched for her husband and children. She detailed how a Sydney Trains worker called for help, noting that only one child’s cries were initially heard.
When authorities arrived, they instructed Langelaar to keep the mother away while they worked to rescue the remaining child. Fortunately, the surviving twin was extracted from beneath the train with just a slight bump on her head.
Despite the tragic loss, Langelaar’s account highlighted the bravery and quick response of those present, including a bystander who unsuccessfully tried to signal the train to stop.
NSW Police Superintendent Paul Dunstan stated that the pram’s movement toward the tracks might have been caused by a brief lapse in supervision or a minor external factor like a gust of wind. The police are investigating the exact cause of the pram’s movement.
A heartfelt tribute from Sreyas Gopalakrishnan Thottarath, a school friend of Runwal, mourned the loss, extending condolences to the bereaved family. NSW Premier Chris Minns described Runwal’s actions as an extraordinary act of bravery, expressing deep sorrow for the family and first responders involved.
Minns indicated the possibility of implementing new safety measures at train stations to prevent such incidents in the future. Sydney Trains CEO Matthew Longland emphasized the importance of platform safety and pledged to consider any recommendations resulting from the ongoing investigation.
Safety measures, such as platform screen doors, already in place on the Sydney Metro network, could serve as a model for improving safety at other stations. These doors create a barrier between the platform and tracks, enhancing passenger safety and reducing the risk of accidents.
Fatal Sydney train station accident death of Anand Runwal – Obituary A tragic incident at a Sydney train station claimed the life of Anand Runwal, a devoted father who attempted to rescue his twin daughters when their pram rolled onto the tracks. The harrowing event occurred around 12:25 p.m. on Sunday at Carlton train station,…
Fatal Sydney train station accident death of Anand Runwal – Obituary A tragic incident at a Sydney train station claimed the life of Anand Runwal, a devoted father who attempted to rescue his twin daughters when their pram rolled onto the tracks. The harrowing event occurred around 12:25 p.m. on Sunday at Carlton train station,…