Seventeen, including 13 women, killed as EMU train hits auto

Kancheepuram, Oct 31 (UNI) Seventeen people, including 13 women, were killed when an auto in which they were travelling was hit by an EMU train at an unmanned level crossing in Pudupakkam Village of this district of Tamil Nadu today.

Police and Railway sources told UNI the victims were on their way to attend a funeral in the village when the accident occurred.

The driver of the ill-fated auto tried to cross the track without noticing the Chennai Beach-bound train from Tirumaalpur, when the vehicle got struck on the tracks, leading to the tragedy.

All the victims, hailing from Orikkai village, were relatives.

The deceased included five members of a family and a newly-wed woman, Bhavani, whose grandmother Elizabeth (80) had died in the village.

They had hired the auto to attend the funeral of Elizabeth when the fate proved cruel to them.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expressed anguish over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the families of the deceased.

Expressing anguish over the ghastly mishap, Minister of state for Railways R Velu said senior officials, including the Divisional and Assistant Railway Managers, had rushed to the spot and the Ministry would take further action after getting reports from them.

He also announced an immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 each to the families of the deceased to meet the immediate funeral, transport and other contingent expenses.

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