A commuter trying to board a moving train in northeastern India last Sunday (January 24) fell into the gap between the platform but survived with only minor injuries.

CCTV footage from Kiul station shows passenger Chotu Lal Mandal being dragged along by the train.

Railway staff rush to his aid but he slips onto the tracks beneath the train.

After a few tense moments, the train passes over him and he gets to his feet.

The commuter was taken to hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Mandal credits the railway employees for ordering him to stay down after falling so that the carriages could pass over him safely.

“I slipped while getting into the train and fell down. I thank the officials who saved my life," Mandal said.

A passenger tried to board a moving train at Kiul station in eastern India and slipped into the space between the platform and the coach.

Heartstopping footage from an Indian railways CCTV camera shows the passenger, Chotu Lal Mandal, scrambling to climb up to safety as the moving train drags him along.

A few railways officials, including Travelling Ticket Examiner Anand Mohan, saw the unfolding incident and ran to help Mandal.

Mohan grabbed him and pinned him down to stop him from trying to climb up. After a few tense moments and as all the coaches passed, Mandal got up. He was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Mohan said: “He would have been hit in the head by the coaches if he had tried to climb up. He could also have fallen and rolled towards the tracks. So I held him still and kept on talking to him to stay calm. I held him like that till 7 to 8 coaches passed.”

Mandal said: “I slipped while getting into the train and fell down. I thank the officials who saved my life.”