Date:11/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/11/stories/2008081157780100.htm

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3 killed at unmanned level crossing

R. Rajaram

The victims were occupants of the car that was rammed by a passenger train

— Photo: R. Ashok

GHASTLY ACCIDENT: The car got dragged from the unmanned level crossing near Tiruchi on Sunday.

TIRUCHI: Three persons were killed when a car was rammed by a passenger train at an unmanned railway level crossing near here on Sunday.

The victims were identified as M. Chandrasekaran (57), his wife Rani (48) and car driver Velusamy. All of them were killed on the spot. While Rani and Velusamy were thrown out of the car and run over, Chandrasekaran was stuck in the vehicle.

The accident took place when the car driver attempted to cross the unmanned gate between the Tiruchi and Poongudi railway stations in the Tiruchi–Dindigul broad gauge section around 2.45 p.m.

The car was dragged for about 300 metres. The Mayiladuthurai-Tirunelveli passenger came to a halt on the bridge across the Idachuvaari. The mangled car, caught in the locomotive’s cow catcher, had to be extricated by taking the train in the reverse direction.

According to police, the victims were returning from the Rettai Malai temple, located near Edamalaipattipudur, when the accident took place.

Chandrasekaran had fixed his son’s wedding for next month. Marriage cards were recovered from the car.

A medical relief van and a breakdown special were sent from the Tiruchi junction to the accident spot.

A team of divisional railway officials led by Divisional Safety Officer A. Mani and Senior Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Srinivasan rushed to the spot. The Superintendent of Police, Government Railway Police, Tiruchi, N. Rajasekaran, and city police officials visited the spot to conduct enquiries.

An inquiry would be conducted by the Madurai railway division. Officials said there was no damage to the track. The train left the site at around 5.15 p.m.

Chandrasekaran was the Deputy General Manager of Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Ltd, a State government undertaking, at Alangulam in Virudhunagar.