Man killed while trying to board train amid heavy rush

Rail crew break part of platform to pull him out

A man succumbed to injuries after falling off the footboard of a Delhi-bound train while trying to board it amid heavy rush, officials said on Monday.

On Sunday night, 40-year-old Avdhesh was trying to enter the general coach of Shram Shakti Express stationed at the platform when he slipped from the footboard due to heavy rush and the lower part of his body got stuck between the railway tracks, said Mewalal, Kanpur Central Railway Station superintendent.

The railway authorities were informed and Avdhesh was taken to hospital in a critically injured state where he was declared brought dead, officials said.

The train which was scheduled to leave for Delhi at 11.40 pm was delayed by one and a half hours due to the incident.

Shram Shakti Express is the only Delhi-bound train available from Kanpur due to which there is heavy rush.

The passengers who gathered at platform one later alleged that the railway crew and the authorities took half an hour to reach the spot and that Avdhesh could be saved had they arrived earlier.

However, the station superintendent maintained that the crew reached the spot as soon as they were informed and tried to pull out the victim.

The process took almost an hour because the crew tried to save Avdhesh by breaking a part of the platform instead of using the electronic cutter as he would have suffered burn injuries due to its heat, Mewalal said.

The victim’s family has been informed and the body will be sent for postmortem today, he said, adding that a decision on the compensation to the victim will be taken by top officials of the North Central Railways.