Title - Two killed as goods train hits car

Two persons were killed and two others injured when a goods train proceeding to Karur from Dindigul hit a car at an unmanned level crossing at Nallamanarkottai near Kolathur on Wednesday.

The deceased were K. Murugesan (40) of Nallamanarkottai and M. Saranya (30), wife of Manoharan.

The injured K. Manoharan (35), owner of a computer sales centre in Dindigul, and his nine-month-old daughter Asika Sri were admitted to a hospital. The family members were returning home in Dindigul after taking part in a marriage function at Marambadi near Nallamanarkottai.

When the car attempted to cross the unmanned railway gate, the goods train rammed it and pulled the vehicle to a distance of 500 feet.

The car was crushed in the impact. Local people said that concrete platform laid on both sides of the track at the level crossing was four or five inches higher than the track. The asphalt road leading to the village was also not properly levelled with the platform. It was said that the wheel of the car got caught in the groove in between the concrete structure and the road. The driver could not reverse the car and the approaching train hit it .

The level crossing is the entry point to Nallamanarkottai and all vehicles have to cross it to reach the village. All vehicles had been struggling to cross this uneven road, the locals said.