Title - Train rams car, three escape unhurt

Three youth escaped unhurt when they got out of their car before it was hit by a train at the Thondiyathu road unmanned level crossing near Kuttikulangara at Pathiyur, Kayamkulam, in the district on Sunday afternoon.The youth were identified as Ramesh, 31, of Aickerathu house in Pathiyur grama panchayat, Muhammed Niyaz, 31, of Injikkal house in Kayamkulam municipality, and Nirmalkumar 24, also of Kayamkulam municipality, who was driving the car.Rail traffic on the route was disrupted for a few hours following the incident.The Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Kayamkulam said the incident occurred when the car in which the youth were travelling broke down on entering the track. Seeing the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam passenger train, the youth tried to push the car out of the way. However, their efforts failed and they escaped to safety, leaving behind the car. The loco pilot saw the car from a distance of 200 metres. The train hit the car and sent it to one side of the track. The front portion of the car was badly damaged.The RPF registered a case against the youth for not following rules while crossing an unmanned level crossing. Rules say that a person has to stop before a level crossing, come out of the vehicle, and ensure that a train is not approaching the track. Then only can the person cross the track to the other side. The ‘irresponsibility’ of the youth could have put the lives of hundreds of passengers on the train in danger, RPF officials say.