A devastating incident took place early in the morning on Kartik Purnima in Chunar, Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh, where six pilgrims lost their lives after being hit by the Kalka Mail train. The victims, who were traveling on the Prayagraj-Chopan Passenger train, got off at platform number four and were attempting to cross the tracks to reach platform number three. Unfortunately, they were caught in the path of the fast-moving Kalka Mail, which led to the tragic accident. The bodies were torn apart by the impact, and police are now working to collect the scattered remains for identification.
Details of the Incident
The accident occurred around 9:15 AM when the pilgrims, mostly women and girls, were crossing the tracks near Chunar station. Among the deceased, five were from Mirzapur, and one was from the Karama area of Sonbhadra district. These pilgrims were returning from the Prayagraj-Chopan Passenger train and were on their way to the town when they were struck by the train coming from PDDU Junction towards Mirzapur. The horrific incident caused a chaotic situation at Chunar station, as the bodies of the victims were scattered across the railway tracks.
As soon as the news broke, police from both the GRP (Government Railway Police) and RPF (Railway Protection Force) quickly rushed to the scene. They worked together to gather the remains of the victims. Senior officials, including the SDM of Chunar, arrived at the station to supervise the situation. The bodies were eventually collected and sent for post-mortem examination.
Victims and their Background
The deceased were identified as Savita (28), daughter of Rajkumar, from Kamariya village in the Rajgarh area of Mirzapur district; Sadhna (16), daughter of Vijay Shankar; Shivkumari (12), daughter of Vijay Shankar; Anju (20), daughter of Shyam Prasad; Sushila Devi (60), wife of the late Mewalal from Padri village; and Kalawati Devi (21), wife of Janardan from Baswa village in the Karama police station area of Sonbhadra. They had all alighted from the Prayagraj-Chopan Passenger train at platform number four of Chunar station and were walking towards platform three when they crossed the tracks.
Failed to Use Foot Overbridge
According to the police, instead of using the foot overbridge, the pilgrims attempted to cross the railway tracks directly, which led to the unfortunate event. While crossing the tracks, they were struck by the Kalka Mail, which was traveling at high speed from PDDU Junction towards Mirzapur. The force of the collision caused the pilgrims to be thrown onto the tracks, resulting in instant death.
The families of the victims, who had come to Chunar to take a holy dip in the Ganges, were left devastated by the accident. Their emotional distress was evident as they arrived at the site of the tragedy, unable to comprehend the loss.
After the accident, police took control of the bodies and began the process of identifying the victims. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, and the authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the incident. The police are also investigating why the pilgrims chose to cross the tracks instead of using the available foot overbridge, which could have prevented this tragedy.
This horrific incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with railway crossings and the importance of following safety protocols while traveling on trains. The authorities are likely to review safety measures at Chunar station to prevent similar accidents in the future.
