By Sarah Evans | Supporter Engagement Officer
A crowded station. Four frightened sisters. A moment where everything could have gone wrong.
Until your support brought them back to safety.
Four-year-old Surika* lived with her parents, brother and three sisters in a small jhuggi (a makeshift home of mud and corrugated iron) near a railway settlement in Delhi. Her parents worked long hours as street vendors, selling clothes to get by. Despite living in the city for years, the family’s shelter lacked even the most basic facilities, and financial pressures had recently forced the children to drop out of school.
A Terrifying Separation
One afternoon, after visiting a relative to collect medicine for their son, the family boarded a train back to Delhi. As the train pulled into Delhi Cantt station, Surika and her three sisters stepped off, expecting their parents to follow. But in the rush of gathering their belongings, the doors closed – and the girls’ parents were carried away on the moving train.
Stranded on the platform, the sisters clung to one another, scanning the crowd for a familiar face. Panic rose as commuters hurried past, unaware of their distress. Just as fear began to overwhelm them, a Government Railway Police (GRP) officer noticed the frightened group and stepped in.
Immediate Protection
The officer quickly contacted the Railway Children India (RCI) emergency helpline. Within minutes, RCI staff reached the platform and found the four girls huddled together, scared and confused.
The GRP officer and RCI team escorted the girls to the station office, offering warm refreshments and reassurance. Surika’s eldest sister explained what had happened, and authorities immediately began tracing the parents.
A Reunion Filled with Relief
Later that evening, the girls’ parents arrived at the GRP station, breathless and deeply worried as, with tears filling their eyes, they embraced their daughters.
After verifying their identities and completing the required paperwork, a handover photograph was taken – capturing a moment of profound relief and gratitude.
A Step Towards a Brighter Future
But support didn’t end with the reunion.
Knowing they’d been out of school for months, RCI staff visited the family at home to help all five children re-enrol in school, giving them the chance to learn, grow, and build a safer future.
Your Support Made this Rescue Possible
Surika and her sisters’ story is more than a moment of being lost and found. It’s a testament to resilience, quick action and the power of community.
Because of you, four young girls are back where they belong: safe at home, surrounded by family and returning to school with hope.
*Names have been changed and models used to protect identities.
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