15-yr-old run over by train while crossing tracks in Ambernath

ACTIVIST TANMOY ADAK SAID COMMUTERS USE THE SPOT TO TRESPASS AS THE FOB IS NARROW AND OVERCROWDED

KALYAN: A 15-year-old died while crossing the tracks near Ambernath station on Tuesday afternoon, after being hit by a Badlapur-cst local.

According to the Kalyan Government Railway Police (GRP), Simrun Singh, a resident of Javsai village, which is 3-4km from the accident spot, suffered a severe head injury and her left leg was cut off in the accident. “The incident took place at 1.10pm near the Hanuman mandir on B Cabin Road. She was taken to the civic hospital in Ulhasnagar, after which she was declared dead,” said Dinkar Pingle, senior inspector, Kalyan GRP.

Although the accident spot is a at a distance from Ambernath railway station, commuters frequently cross the tracks there to travel between the eastern and western parts of Ambernath. “We are investigating the case and fetching more information about the victim and where she was headed,” said Pingle. A relative of the victim, requesting anonymity, said, “We are in a state of shock. We are not willing to talk about it.” Another GRP officer said the school where the victim studied is in Ambernath (West). “We are checking why she was in that area when she does not usually go to the station.”

There are two foot overbridges (FOB) at Ambernath station – one at the Karjat-end, and the other at the Mumbai-end. The Karjat side FOB is narrow and activists have been demanding a wider one.

“The FOB on the Karjat-end is overcrowded during peak hours as it is very narrow. Commuters prefer to trespass to avoid the crowded bridge. The other FOB, at the Mumbai-end, is hardly used,” said Tanmoy Adak, representative of Ambernath Citizen Forum. Adak said there are several such spots where there is no fencing and people trespass easily. “I have been writing to the Kalyan GRP to install fences in such areas to prevent trespassing, but, nothing has been done.”

An officer from the Kalyan GRP, however, said, “It’s not possible to do fencing and control trespassing as commuters break down fences.” He said the Railways is considering widening Fobs. “We will ask officials to consider Ambernath a priority.”