Kerala Consumerfed Chairman knocked down by train

Kochi, Jun 15 (UNI) Kerala State Cooperative Consumers Federation (Consumerfed) Chairman V Karunan Master died after being knocked down by Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Superfast Mail here this morning, police said.

North police station officials said Mr Karunan(63), had gone out for a morning walk when he was hit by the superfast mail near the Pullyapedi railway gate between Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Jn.

stations around 0710 hrs.

He reportedly died of head injuries on the spot.

According to senior railway officials, Mr Karunan's body was noticed by a gangman, who alerted the mobile police. The body was first taken to Ernakulam General Hospital and later to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Consumerfed Managing Director Riji G Nair told UNI that Mr Karunan, had taken over as the Consumerfed Chairman about two years ago.

A bachelor, was living at Pinarayi in Kannur district and used to visit the Consumerfed headquarters here occassionally. During his visit here, he used to stay in an official guest house near the Katharakadavu bridge, near the accident site.

Mr Karunan was to attend the opening of a Consumerfed-run 'Triveni' supermarket store in Kollam district today.

After the post-mortem, the body would be brought to the Consumerfed headquarters here for the staff memebers and others to pay their last respects. Later, it would be be taken to Pinarayi for the last rites, Mr Nair added.

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