Four killed as train rams tractor

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, APRIL 14. Four persons, including three women, were killed when a passenger train rammed a tractor at an unmanned level-crossing between Nandyal and Gajulapalli railway stations in Kurnool district on Saturday.

According to reports reaching here, the train, bound for Guntur from Secunderabad (no. 523), hit the tractor (AP 21U 2868) at Gopavanicheruvu near Gopavaram village and pulled the trolley (2869) of the tractor up to 100 metres along the track. Four unloading workers who were traveling in the tractor died.

The ill-fated tractor was said to have been returning to Ayyalur after unloading bricks at an agriculture farm, near Mahanandi. The driver, who did not notice the approaching train, drove the tractor across the level-crossing. He was said to have not heard the horn of the train as he played the tape recorder at full volume. The driver noticed the train only after the tractor crossed the rails while the trolley got struck on the track. He jumped off the vehicle and ran away while the workers in the trolley died.

The deceased were identified as Hussainbi (40), Faizunbi (45), Mulla Mahabub Pasha (20) and Nazrunbi (45), all hailed from Ayyalur village. Three of them died on the spot while Nazrunbi died on way to hospital. One person, identified as K. Nagireddy (22), who was standing on the footboard of the train, was hurt when the remains of the tractor hit him. According to the train driver, Mr. N. Md Pheera, the tractor rushed on to the track leaving little scope for him to avoid the collision. The train came to a halt after pulling the trolley for 100 metres. The train left the place four hours after the mishap.

The police, who examined the documents of the tractor, established that the tractor belonged to P. Venkateswarlu of Alluru village in Uyyalawada mandal. The tractor was badly damaged in the mishap. The bodies were scatted along the tractor presenting a gruesome picture.

The Nandyal RDO, Mr. Venkateswarlu, and the Rural Inspector, Mr. Syed Vali, the railway police rushed to the spot and helped salvage the bodies. It took hours to clear the track. However, no damage was reported to the track or engine of the train.

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