Train runs over 4 maintenance workers in UP, kin blame laxity

Four gangmen working on a railway line were run over by a speeding train in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district on Monday, officials said, as the families of the dead accused the railways of turning a blind eye to the security of its employees.

Officials of Moradabad division of Northern Railway (NR), under whose jurisdiction the accident site falls, said the four gangmen were run over by the Kolkata-Amritsar Akal Takht Express (12317) while they were working on the tracks between Sandila and Umartali stations.

“The gangmen were reportedly doing drilling work on the track without any prior block,” a statement from the northern railway said. “So far, three deaths have been confirmed in the incident. The victims have been identified as Rajesh Kumar, 35, Ram Swarup, 45, and Kaushal Kumar, 32,” senior divisional commercial manager (DCM) of Moradabad division Vivek Sharma said.

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

Hardoi’s additional superintendent of police Gyananjay Singh identified the fourth deceased as Rajendra, 42.

The bodies have been sent by the Railway Police for post mortem examination, the ASP said.

DCM Sharma said a probe has been ordered into the accident.Any repair or maintenance work should be done on tracks with prior blocks taken from the concerned zone. Specific blocks or time is taken for repair to ensure that workers are not caught in between the two approaching trains, officials said.

Local residents alleged that the train was running at a high speed and a few bodies were found at a distance of around 40 metres from the accident site.

Family members of the deceased blamed the railways for laxity 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 victim Ram Swarup, said.

The incident comes after a speeding passenger train mowed down 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 the Dussehra celebrations.