NASHIK: Four railway trackmen were killed after a tower wagon hit them near Lasalgaon station on Mumbai – Bhusawal (Down) line at 6am on Monday, a senior Central Railway official said.
Tower wagons are used for maintenance and repairs of overhead electric wires.
“A block (time period when maintenance and repairs are carried out) was in force from 5.50am to 7.50 am on the down line of the Central Railway’s Manmad-Nashik section. A tower wagon came in from Ugaon side and hit the four working on the tracks near Lasalgaon station,” divisional railway manager (Bhusawal) Shambhu Kedia said.
The four men – Santosh Kedare (38), Dinesh Darade (35), Krishna Ahire (40) and Santosh Shirsath (38) – were immediately taken to the Lasalgaon rural hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The Lasalgaon police have taken the tower van driver in custody.
Railway authorities said Rs 25,000 have been provided to the kin of each deceased as immediate assistance and the officials visited the victims’ family members.
“It is an unfortunate incident. The Railways will take care of the victims’ family members by extending them all the benefits they are entitled to. A family member of each of the deceased would be offered a job on compassionate grounds,” another senior officer said.
4 railway trackmen killed as tower wagon hits them
The officer also said the tower wagon supervisor and one permanent way inspection (PWI) staff have been suspended pending enquiry.
At the time of a mega block, a red flag is always posted 600-meter before the area where the works are carried out with a man posted there.
“It is unclear if this was in place at the accident spot. It is also not clear if the tower wagon driver saw the flag and jumped it. We are also trying to find out if the driver failed to spot the flag due to poor visibility ahead of the curve leading to a blind turn,” an official said.
A committee comprising a divisional-level safety officer, officers from electrical and engineering departments and operations, would be formed to look into all aspects leading to the incident, the officer said.
Several colleagues of the deceased trackmen and the latter’s relatives staged an agitation in protest against the accident at the Lasalgaon station. The Manmad-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus special train, which was on its way to Mumbai, was halted at the station due to agitation by the trackmen. The agitation lasted for 30 minutes before the railway authorities pacified the protesters.
Tower wagons are used for maintenance and repairs of overhead electric wires.
“A block (time period when maintenance and repairs are carried out) was in force from 5.50am to 7.50 am on the down line of the Central Railway’s Manmad-Nashik section. A tower wagon came in from Ugaon side and hit the four working on the tracks near Lasalgaon station,” divisional railway manager (Bhusawal) Shambhu Kedia said.
The four men – Santosh Kedare (38), Dinesh Darade (35), Krishna Ahire (40) and Santosh Shirsath (38) – were immediately taken to the Lasalgaon rural hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. The Lasalgaon police have taken the tower van driver in custody.
Railway authorities said Rs 25,000 have been provided to the kin of each deceased as immediate assistance and the officials visited the victims’ family members.
“It is an unfortunate incident. The Railways will take care of the victims’ family members by extending them all the benefits they are entitled to. A family member of each of the deceased would be offered a job on compassionate grounds,” another senior officer said.
4 railway trackmen killed as tower wagon hits them
The officer also said the tower wagon supervisor and one permanent way inspection (PWI) staff have been suspended pending enquiry.
At the time of a mega block, a red flag is always posted 600-meter before the area where the works are carried out with a man posted there.
“It is unclear if this was in place at the accident spot. It is also not clear if the tower wagon driver saw the flag and jumped it. We are also trying to find out if the driver failed to spot the flag due to poor visibility ahead of the curve leading to a blind turn,” an official said.
A committee comprising a divisional-level safety officer, officers from electrical and engineering departments and operations, would be formed to look into all aspects leading to the incident, the officer said.
Several colleagues of the deceased trackmen and the latter’s relatives staged an agitation in protest against the accident at the Lasalgaon station. The Manmad-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus special train, which was on its way to Mumbai, was halted at the station due to agitation by the trackmen. The agitation lasted for 30 minutes before the railway authorities pacified the protesters.