Narrow escape for woman, twin daughters as bike stalls on track

The woman, identified as Sumathi (30) of Korukkupet, managed to escape with her two children without being hit by the train, her two-wheeler was crushed by the train which ran over the vehicle.

The incident happened around 9 am when Sumathi took her twin girls, three-and-a-half years old, to the nearby kindergarten. Anxious to reach the school on time, she took the gap between the closed gates at level crossing-2, Korukkupet, to reach the other side like many other violators. However, to her shock, the bike suddenly stopped on the track even as a Chennai Central-bound suburban train from Sullurpetta was fast approaching.

When she could not start the vehicle, Sumathi swiftly abandoned the vehicle, gathered her children and ran away to safety. The train hit the two-wheeler and dragged it for a few metres before coming a halt. The mangled remains of the vehicle were removed from under the train by the RPF and railway staff.

RPF police booked the mother for illegally crossing the railway gate, which put her life and that of the children at risk. “Despite regular awareness programmes against crossing the railway track when the gates are closed, two-wheeler riders continue to sneak through the closed gates risking their lives,” police added.

The incident affected train services on the route for about 40 minutes. It resumed later after the damaged two-wheeler was removed from the tracks.