Train services disrupted after mob torches railway station in UP

Lucknow, Oct 13 (UNI) Train services on the busy Kanpur-Lucknow rail route were severely distrupted since this morning after a mob allegedly ransacked Harauni railway station when a speeding train crushed three youths to death.

Train services on the route was paralysed since 0800 hours with several long distance trains including Lucknow-bound Puskpak Express and Chitrakoot Express stranded at different stations.

More than 40,000 daily passengers commuting between Kanpur and Lucknow were facing severe problem due to the agitation.

Local Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) MLA Mohammad Irshad Khan led the protestors in squatting on the railway tracks demanding compensation for the family of the deceased and action against the guilty railway officials.

Sources at the DGP office here said two people died on the spot near Harauni station, 25 km from the state capital, while another succumbed to injuries on way to the hospital. All the deceased belonged to the Tirma village near the accident site. The two deceased who died on the spot were identified as Veerpal and Sanjay.

All the three deceased were runover by the speeding 1123 UP Chapra-Gawalior express train at around 0750 hours.

After the incident, irate mob damaged the Harauni station and damaged the communication system of the busy route.

According to reports, the mob also ransacked the station master office and even manhandled the officer.

The bodies of the two deceased were still lying on the track even as police contingent have been rushed to the spot along with officials.

Meanwhile, railway officials have rushed to the spot with relief van while efforts are being made to rectify the communication system.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Lucknow of the Northern Railway V K Gupta said here efforts were on to normalise the train services on the route.

''We have contacted the local police administration and have asked them to pacify the mob so that the bodies can be removed from the tracks,'' he added.

UNI MB NAB PA KN1218