Title - Jan Shatabdi rams vehicle, 2 dead

KUMBAKONAM: Two people were killed as their car was hit by a speeding express train at an unmanned level crossing (ULC) in Aandalampettai near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.

The incident occurred when the Jan Shatabdi Express from Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai rammed a Tata Sumo vehicle in Aandalampettai at an unmanned level crossing when the car attempted to cross the track around 1pm on Sunday.

The train dragged the car to some distance and stopped. S Murugaraj, 34, from Thiruppananthal and C Vijayakumar, 35, from Thiruvaippaadi who were travelling in the car, were killed on the spot. The duo was returning from a temple in Thiruvidaimaruthur.

Immediately after the accident, more than 500 people residing nearby, staged a protest and accused the loco pilot for not sounding the horn before crossing the unmanned level crossing. Police said Vijayakumar, who was driving the car, had also failed to notice the train. Even though it was the first major accident at this unmanned level crossing, Trichy railway division had witnessed such fatal accidents in some ULCs. More than 300 crossings have remained unmanned in the division. Following the accident, the people blocked the train to demand the railways to post a guard at this ULC.

Trichy divisional railway manager (DRM) Manjula Rangarajan rushed to the spot and ensured the protesters that Aandalampatti ULC would be converted into a manned level crossing. The people then abandoned their protest. However, traffic on the railway line came to an abrupt halt for nearly two hours due to the blockade.