A spine-chilling incident occurred in Agra when a family from Mumbai left their 80-year-old paralyzed father bound to a reclining seat within a parked car as they went on sightseeing at the Taj Mahal. Hariom Tandale, who has paralysis and is unable to move, was tied to the reclining seat of the car. The car was parked under the hot sun with windows closed and no ventilation. Local onlookers were forced to shatter the window in an attempt to rescue the dehydrated and gasping man. Police have attested to the incident, but no complaint has been lodged formally.
During the visit, Agra had temperatures of about 30°C on the day. But the heat was not the only danger — humidity was over 90 per cent. These high temperatures made the car in which Hariom Tandale was left waiting a furnace. As the family toured the monument, their relative, who was elderly, battled inside the car with no fresh air or water. Bound to the seat with a cloth, Hariom Tandale's condition deteriorated rapidly.
Onlookers saw the man in distress and moved quickly into action. Having no one nearby to assist and no time to lose, they smashed the car window. They discovered inside that the 80-year-old was clearly dehydrated, nauseated, and bound in a reclined position. Locals provided him with water, loosened his bonds, and assisted in pulling him from the vehicle. Due to his paralysis, rescue required added caution. Fortunately, his condition began to improve after he was brought outside into fresh air.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sonam Kumar verified the incident when he spoke to PTI. Kumar stated that Siddheshwar Tandale, who resides in Mumbai, had come to Agra with his family and left his aged father locked inside the car. Kumar further stated that an ambulance was summoned to the scene, but soon after he was removed from the car, the man's condition improved.
The police made it clear that no complaint had been made officially. Siddheshwar Tandale departed the scene after the incident along with his father. Though the authorities confirmed the case, nothing was pursued further as there was no complaint.
The incident has caused widespread public anger, leading to questions regarding responsibility and care. Abandoning a paralyzed individual in a locked car in response to the sun — albeit without malice — could have led to a disastrous consequence. This incident is a cold reminder that care for the elderly requires empathy, tolerance, and more importantly, presence.
