11-year-old boy run over by train

An eleven-year-old boy was ran over by Ernakulam bound passenger from Kayamkulam on Monday morning, resulting in people’s agitation leading to a siege of the MC Road at Samkranthy disrupting traffic over the road for over one hour.

Salman (11) son of Salim of Arafa Manzil, Chemmanampadi near Samkranthi was going to the madrassa at Neelimnagalm when the mishap occurred. The fifth standard student at Government UP School Parambuzha, Salman had reached the madrassa and was crossing the rails to take the key to the hall from the house near by when the passenger train hit him. Though he was taken to Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital, the boy succumbed to his injuries.

The rail line here passes through a populated area with majority of the houses being on the western side of the line. People from these houses have to cross the rail line many times a day in to reach the MC Road. Construction of a sub way here had been a long standing demand of the people and had been accepted by the political leadership.

According to local people, many of them had escaped miraculously from accidents from the trains running through the morning mist at the sharp curve on the area.

With the spread of the news of Salman’s tragic accident spread, hundreds of people from the locality laid siege to the MC Road demanding authorities to give them assurance on the sub way. They dispersed only after the RDO arrived and assured them to take up the matter with appropriate authorities.

Salman leaves behind his parents and three siblings.