RailEnquiry

In a shocking incident, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Gagan Behari Swain died after he came under a  passenger train at Bhubaneswar Railway Station here on Monday afternoon.

Swain was serving as Additional Secretary in the Planning and Coordination (P&C) Department of the State Government.

Preliminary reports from the Government Railway Police (GRP) said, he allegedly hurled himself in front of the train. A case of unnatural death has been lodged and investigation is underway. The incident took place at about 5.30 pm. Swain, who was at platform no 3 came in front of the Howrah-Puri Passenger which resulted in serious head injury causing his death.

Though other angles were not ruled out, police did not see foul play. Inspector-in-Charge of GRP, Bhubaneswar Soubhagya Swain said bookstall owners and wheelers saw Swain hurling himself in front of the train. Even the train driver corroborated the same, he said. The exact cause of the officer taking the extreme step is yet to be known.

While it is yet to be ascertained whether the officer was at the station to see off or receive someone, the police found no platform ticket from his possession. Swain, who was earlier Collector of Sonepur district, also served in various departments such as Textiles and Handlooms. He is survived by wife and two sons. His youngest son was to get married on June 30 and invitation cards have also been distributed.

When the news broke, officials from Home Department called up Swain’s wife to know his whereabouts. Unaware of the tragic incident, she is reported to have said that the officer has not returned home yet.