MUMBAI: A day after a freak accident severed the hands of two commuters, including that of a four-year old boy, the Central Railway on Tuesday decided to secure the door panels of all high-tension compartments from inside to ensure that it does not fly off even if the bolts become loose.

"It was a freak incident. Now, we will put in place such a system that it will ensure that no such mishap is repeated. The railways may use a chain or a latch to secure the door panels," said V A Malegaonkar, the chief PRO of CR.

The mishap occurred between Nahur and Mulund stations when a door panel of a CST-Ambernath local came off the hinge, flew off and hit the Mumbai CST-Bangalore Udyan Express, which was running on the parallel tracks. Chandrabai Hadkamal (35), who was sitting near the door of the express, and four-year-old Sharnu Kumbhar, who was at a window seat, were hit by the panel. They were taken to Fortis Hospital in Mulund where Chandrabai's right hand till the elbow had to be amputated and Sharny's wrist of his left hand. Doctors said their condition was stable.

The railway has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5,000 to each of the victim and it is also bearing the expenditure of their treatment. However, the victims' families are not happy with the compensation amount. Sharnu's father Devappa sad, "My son lost his left hand owing to the negligence of the railway authorities. Instead of offering merely Rs 5,000, the authorities should bear his education expenses and also help him secure a job when he grows up."

Even the family and friends of Chandrabai-who stays alone with her 10-year-old son Ajay and elderly mother at Jalgaon after being widowed three years ago-have similar demands. "The railway should pay her a decent compensation amount and offer a job to her son."

A senior official, however, assured them that they could be paid more. "The Rs 5,000 is just the ex-gratia amount, which is announced by the local authorities as soon as a serious accident takes place." C R general manager Subodh Jain added, "We are working on plans to rehabilitate the victims." The victims are entitled to a statutory compensation of Rs 4 lakh each, but for that, they will have to file a claim before a tribunal. A C R official said, "We have already started the process and our officials will file the claim on their behalf." As for providing jobs, the official added that the decision could be taken only at the ministry level.