Three railway workers run over by train in UP’s Hardoi

At least four workers of the Indian Railways were run over on Monday by a train while they were drilling on the tracks in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi, officials said.LUCKNOW Updated: Nov 05, 2018 

HT Correspondent  Lucknow

The gangmen were killed between Sandila and Umartali stations as the Kolkata-Amritsar Akal Takht Express was crossing the tracks, a Northern Railway official said. (HT Photo)

At least three workers of the Indian Railways were run over by a speeding train on Monday in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district, officials said, as the families of the dead accused the network of turning a blind eye to the security of its staff.

Officials with Moradabad Division of Northern Railways (NR), under whose jurisdiction the accident site falls, said the three gangmen were killed between Sandila and Umartali stations.

Sources with the local administration, however, said four employees died in the accident, saying one of the bodies was badly mutilated and is yet to be identified.

“So far, three deaths have been confirmed in the incident. Rajesh Kumar, Ram Swarup and Kaushal Kumar are the names of the gangmen who died in the train accident,” Vivek Sharma, senior divisional commercial manager (DCM) of Moradabad division, said.

The accident was reported at around 12:05pm when the Akal Takht Express (12317), which runs between Kolkata and Amritsar, hit the gangmen doing routine work on the railway track.

“Our team that comprises additional divisional railway manager (ADRM), safety officer and other heads of the departments concerned have been rushed to the spot to gather further information,” Sharma said.

The officer said a probe has been ordered into the accident and the reason why the gangmen were put to work without taking the mandatory caution on the route and why the train didn’t stop would be confirmed only after the inquiry is complete.

“The three gangmen were reportedly drilling on the track without any prior block,” a statement from the Northern Railway said.

Repair or maintenance is undertaken on tracks after taking permission for blocks or time from the concerned zone to ensure that workers are not caught between trains.

Some of the locals say that the train was in such a high speed that a few bodies were found at a distance of around 40 metres from the site of the accident.

Some of the family members of the dead questioned the railways and blamed it for its lethargic approach in ensuring the safety of its staff.

“It’s sheer negligence. How can they put the staffers to task without taking caution on the route? It’s an unpardonable offence. The railways seem to have turned a blind eye towards the safety of its staffers,” Sankata Prasad, the uncle of Ram Swarup, said.

The incident comes after a speeding passenger train mowed down at least 61 people in Amritsar and left many injured on October 19 when the crowd was watching an effigy of Ravan going up in flames during Dussehra celebrations.