DCP Rupali Ambure (centre) and police officials at the scene of the accident where the train ran over the four gangmen. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)
DCP Rupali Ambure (centre) and police officials at the scene of the accident where the train ran over the four gangmen. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)
Four gangmen were killed after a speeding CST bound local train ran them over while they were walking on the railway tracks on the Central railway line near Kurla early on Friday. The Kurla Government Railway Police (GRP), which is investigating the accidental deaths, said the quartet might not have seen the train as the incident occurred sometime before sunrise.
The incident occurred around 6.15 am between Kurla and Vidhyavihar railway stations. The deceased have been identified as Kashinath Bhale (19), Nanachander Sawant (27), Savit Bhauware (18) and Gokul Magrup Pokale (18).
Around 150 gangmen have been killed on the tracks since 2009, informed a Central Railway official requesting anonymity.
The gangmen are contractual employees of the Railways. They were walking along the tracks when they were run over by a Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST)-bound suburban train. The train’s motorman, who ran them over, alerted the concerned authorities after which help was sent to the spot. A GRP official said all of them were put on stretchers and taken to Rajawadi Hospital where a doctor pronounced them brought dead.
GRP deputy commissioner of police, Central, Rupali Ambure said, “We have registered a case of accidental death and initiated an inquiry to ascertain further facts.” The Kurla GRP has registered four Accidental death reports over the incident.
Last month, Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu had discussed the idea of providing more safety measures for gangmen. One of the suggestions were to arm them with Rakshak, a walkie-talkie-like equipment, which will be able to receive warnings from approaching trains and will alert them in time to move away from the tracks.
In June last year a gangman was killed after being hit by a local train between Kopar and Diva. Also in November 2013, four railway gangmen, carrying out maintenance work on the tracks, were killed after being hit by a speeding Kolhapur-bound long distance train between Thakurli and Kalyan railway stations in the neighbouring Thane district.
