16 labourers from UP run over by train near Surat

Surat, Feb 28 (UNI) At least 16 people, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, were killed when the Kutch Express ran over them on the Kakra Khadi bridge between Surat and Udhna stations last night.

Those dead, including two women and as many children, were reportedly labourers and their family members, who had come to Udhana in the Tapti Ganga Express that runs from Varanasi to Surat.

Western Railway suspended driver A K Sharma and assistant Driver Arun Kumar of the Kutch Express, which had crushed to death the 16 people when it ran over them at around 2300 hrs yesterday, an official said.

They were suspended for not reporting the matter to the next station.

Initially, it was unknown as to which train might have caused the accident. The victims apparently had been crushed to death by the train which reaches Surat at around the same time, Railway officials said adding at least three trains had passed after the accident.

It was earlier said the victims had been crushed to death by the Saurashtra Express.

Police said after getting off the train at Udhana station, the people were walking on the railway track when they were run over by the train.

The bodies of the victims were spotted lying along the track by the driver of ''Flying Ranee'' coming from Mumbai. The driver of ''Flying Ranee'' informed the authorities of the incident, the police said.

The post-mortem of all the victims have been completed at the Surat Municipal Corporation Medical College.

Minister of State for Railway Naran Rathwa announced an immediate release of Rs 10,000 for the last rites of the victims.

Condoling the deaths Mr Rathwa directed the railway officials to rush to the spot and investigate the matter.

BJP MPs in Delhi, including leader of opposition Lal Krishna Advani and Kashiram Rana, demanded the immediate dismissal of all those responsible for the accident and asked the government to announce a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the immediate relatives of the victims.

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