Lockdown: Two workers on way home on foot run over by train

Korba, Apr 21 () Two labourers who were headingtowards their home on foot due to the coronavirus lockdownwere killed after being run over by a freight train inChhattisgarh's Koriya district on Tuesday, police said.

The mishap took place around 8 am between Udalkachharand Darritola railway stations under Mandendragarh policestation limits in Koriya.

As per preliminary information, the victims, KaleshwarRajwade (21) and Gulab Rajwade (20), along with two otherworkers left from Pendra-Marwahi-Gaurela district on Monday toreach their native villages in Surajpur district, locatedaround 130 km from Pendra, by walking along the rail tracks, apolice official said.

All the four men were pursuing training on fertilizermanufacturing in Pendra, but it was suspended after thelockdown came into force last month.

As no transport services are available due to travelrestrictions, they decided to walk along the rail route, theofficial said.

After an overnight journey, they reached a spotbetween Udalkachhar and Darritola stations on Anuppur-Ambikapur rail line, located around 80 km from Pendra, wherethe two victims sat on the track to have breakfast while thetwo other workers went to get water.

The victims failed to notice the goods trainapproaching towards the spot where they were sitting on thetracks and were crushed to death, the official said.

The other two workers informed the police about theincident and the bodies were sent for post mortem, he said.

An accidental death report was registered and furtherinvestigation was underway, he added.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over thedeath of the two workers, and instructed the districtauthorities concerned to provide necessary assistance to theirfamilies immediately. COR TKPGK GK