New Delhi: Two train accidents near the Pachdevra halt overbridge in Prayagraj claimed five lives on Wednesday evening. What initially appeared to be a single death soon turned out to be four more fatalities.
How the incident happened
According to multiple media reports, the Kalka Express ran over a man, due to which the train halted. Some passengers on the Kalka Express stepped out of their coaches and onto the tracks to see what had happened. It was out of curiosity that they jumped out to observe the situation.
Just then, another train, the Purushottam Express, reportedly coming on another track ran four people over. These four “curious” passengers were killed on the spot.
What the railway official said
North Central Railway chief public relations officer Shashikant Tripathi reportedly said, “Around 6:15pm, the guard and loco pilot of train number 12312 (down direction-Kalka Express) reported spotting a body on the down main line near km 801/24-22, following which the train was halted and the authorities concerned were informed. During the same time, train number 12801 Purushottam Express (up direction), which passed the location at around 6:47 pm, was involved in another tragic accident in which four persons were run over by the train and lost their lives.”
Tripathi also requested passengers and the general public not to get off trains unnecessarily and strictly adhere to railway safety norms, by avoiding movement on the tracks.
Karchana Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunil Kumar said the deceased have been identified as Baliram (36), a resident of Siwan (Bihar); Sunil Kumar (24), a resident of Bishandarpur (Mirzapur); and Akash (17), a resident of Prithvipur Khairgarh (Firozabad). Identities of the other two victims will be ascertained soon.
As per authorities, a detailed probe is being carried on, and if any criminal angle is found, strict action will be taken by the GRP and local police. The train accidents also caused major disruptions in the movement on the Howrah-Delhi route for a while.