Accident on tracks: Victim was wearing earphones, say police

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14

A day after a 18-year-old cyclist was run over by a train, it was learnt that the deceased was wearing earphones.

The police said Shammi, a resident of Ranchi Colony, was listening to music when he failed to spot the approaching train.

The police had yesterday found earphones at the spot. “It is not the first incident,” said the police.

The railway authorities keep issuing advisories, still such incidents take place. Seeing a rise in the number of such accidents, the Railway Ministry had recently launched an advertisement campaign on FM Gold radio channel to educate commuters and ask them not to listen to music while crossing an unmanned level-crossing.

The railway police said they did not have any records. “Facts come to light when we record statements of eyewitnesses. Details are further sent to senior officials,” said Jasdev Singh, a police official.

In a majority of the cases, passengers crossing tracks in a rush or trespassers become a victim of such accidents.

Jasdev Singh said, “Three years ago, a  youth from Patiala died after being hit by a train. He was on phone and was unaware of the approaching train. Commuters kept asking him to leave the track, but he did not listen. In no time, he was run over by a train.”
The incident
The incident took place at  8.30 am  when the victim, identified as Shammi Kumar of Ranchi Colony, was riding to his workplace at BRS Nagar. While he was crossing the unmanned track, he was hit by a train and died on the spot.
 It is learnt that  when the incident came to light four trains had already ran over his body.