Post News Network
Bolangir, July 21: Three members of a family were crushed to death when the motorbike they were riding on was run over by a train at an unmanned level crossing at Titidunguri near Titlagarh in the district Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Niranjan Sahu, his wife Nilendri Sahu and Puja Sahu of Gunachitara village.
Sources said the accident took place when, the couple and their niece, were on way from Dangarmunda village Tuesday morning. Their bike was hit by Sambalpur-Rayagada Tapaswini Express at the level crossing killing them on the spot.
Tension prevailed in the area after irate villagers rushed to the spot and staged a protest demanding construction of a railway over bridge in the area.
Angry villagers also blocked the railway track demanding compensation of `30 lakh to the family of deceased, job to kin of the victim and construction of a gate at the site.
On being informed, Titlagarh sub-collector Kailas Chandra Sahu, tehsildar Nityananda Barik, local SDPO Dilip Kumar Purohit and senior railway officials reached the spot and held discussions with the locals. The protestors relented after sub-collector promised to pay `one lakh compensation from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The family members of the deceased were also given `21,000 from Red Cross and under Harishchandra Yojana. The officials also agreed to pay `750 every month towards education expenses of two sons of Niranjan till their matriculation.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) sent the bodies for post-mortem. A case has been registered at Government Railway Police Station in Bolangir in this regard. The villagers alleged that though a guard was posted at the level crossing, he was absent at the time of accident,
Railway sources said movement of several trains on the route was affected due to the blockade for a long time. Howrah-Jagdalpur Train, Jharsuguda-Titlagarh passenger train, Rayagada-Sambalpur, Yasawantpur-Hatia and Durg-Puri Inter-City Trains were hit due to the protest. Few other trains were also diverted, they added.