Passengers jump off train driven by tipsy driver in Punjab

Sangrur, Nov 7 (UNI) A passenger was killed and twelve others were injured when they fell off or jumped out of a passenger train being hauled by an engine, driven by a tipsy driver and his assistant near Malerkotla in this district today.

According to official sources, the passengers became paniky when the train, 3LJH running from Ludhiana to Hisar did not halt at the Malerkotla station. A number of passengers jumped off the train and 12 of them received injuries and were admitted to the civil hospital in Malerkotla.

Earlier a Sangrur based resident identified as Nand Kishore, who was standing near the door of a compartment died when he fell off the train after the driver suddenly increased its speed, beyond permissable limits, between Himtana and Malekotla stations. Railway officials said that due to a sharp turning between Himtana and Malerkotla stations, the train normally travels at slow speed.

After the train 'jumped' Malerkotla station, railway officials at the station immediately tried to establish contact with the driver over the walkie talkie. The train finally came to a halt about two kms from the station.

A number of passengers got off the train after it had stopped and 'gheraoed' the engine. Railway officials too reached the spot and found driver, Jugraj Singh and co-driver, Satnam Singh in a inebriated state. The liquor bottle from which they were drinking was also seized.

Both the driver and the co-driver were taken into custody by the GRP and later arrested under section 304 and 175 of the IPC after a medical examination. Additional Divisional Railway Manager R K Saxena later reached Malerkotla and took a serious note of the incident.

Mr Saxena also handed over an amount of Rs 15,000 to the next of kin of the deceased.

UNI