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12 killed, 15 injured as trains run over them in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, October 22, 2011
At least 12 people were killed and more than 15 others injured, most of them seriously, after they were trapped and run over by three trains at the Tarbahar railway level crossing near Bilaspur station this evening.
According to railway sources and eyewitnesses, the tragedy struck around 1900 hrs as the victims were trying to cross the tracks, when two goods trains and a Bilaspur-Raipur passenger train were passing the railway level crossing, located only one km from Bilaspur
station.
Seeing the two goods trains coming on the first and the third tracks, the victims - who had jumped the closed gate - gathered on the middle track. Unfortunately, the Bilaspur-Raipur Passenger train came on that track within a few seconds, leaving them with no chance for
escape.
Most of the victims were reportedly run over and killed by the speeding passenger train, railway sources said.
Senior railway officials have rushed to the spot and relief operations were on.
According to Inspector General (Railways) R K Devangan, so far 12 bodies had been recovered from the spot and the injured were rushed to different hospitals in Bilaspur.
Expressing his grief over the tragedy, Chief Minister Raman Singh has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 each to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 20,000 to the injured.
In a bid to escape the fast approaching passenger train, the victims - some of whom who were also on their motorbikes and bicycles - ran helter skelter but in vain. The bodies of the victims were dragged by the trains up to 300 metres on either side of the level crossing, according to eyewitnesses.
Tension prevailed as an angry mob indulged in heavy stone pelting at the trains and set on fire at least eight vehicles, including that of District Collector Thakur Ram Singh.
Railway Protection Force personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control by opening fire in the air and resorting to a mild baton charge.
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