A 30-year-old woman and her two school-going children who tried to cross a level-crossing had a narrow escape on Tuesday morning, after she jumped off her two-wheeler just before it was hit by a passenger train.
According to the police, around 8.50 a.m., Sumathy, 30, wife of Murugan, residing in J.J. Nagar, Korukkupet, was on her way to drop her two daughters at school. However, the level-crossing gate number 2 at Korrukupet was closed.
Ignores warning
Since it usually takes at least thirty minutes for the gate to open, she, like other motorists, managed to get her vehicle beneath the boom barrier and tried to ride over the track along with her children.
The police said she did this despite other motorists warning her of an approaching train.
“When Sumathy saw the train heading towards her, she asked her two daughters to get down, and tried to pull her bike behind to safety. However, she turned the throttle instead, and the bike sped towards the tracks. But she managed to jump off the bike in time,” said a police officer from the Korukkupet Government Railway Police (GRP) station.
In a matter of seconds, Nellore to Moore Market Complex (train number- 17237) hit her vehicle and dragged it for some distance before stopping.
“She broke down soon after the accident. Other motorists rushed to the spot to check if she and the children were safe,” added the officer.
Case registered
Sumathy was questioned by the GRP and the RPF and a case was registered against her. She has been instructed to appear before the Special Railway Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
Residents feel that a subway for two-wheelers will prevent accidents and traffic stagnation near the gate. “Many trains pass through the route and vehicles have to wait for a minimum of 30 minutes for the gate to open. Hence, motorists get impatient and try to cross the tracks, endangering their lives,” said Venkatesan, a resident of the locality.
A GRP officer said they would hold more awareness programmes on the dangers of crossing the closed level-crossing.
