Salem: In a horrific accident at an unmanned level crossing between Chinnasalem and Pukkiravari railway stations, two women were killed on the spot and two others critically injured as the car in which they were travelling was banged by an approaching Salem-Vridhachalam passenger train on Friday noon.
Railway sources in Salem division said that the rear portion of the car was smashed, killing two of its women occupants, Chitra, 48 and Kavya, 21 on the spot.Two other male members in the car, Vetrivel, 56 and Maheswaran, 19, who were seriously injured were admitted to the government hospital at Mundiyampakkam and government hospital at Kallakuruchi respectively.
The medical team that rushed to the spot with ‘108’ ambulance found both the ladies dead and the two male persons injured were rushed to hospitals.
Sources said despite a ‘Gate Mitra’ at the level crossing present there having alerted the driver of the car about the train's arrival, the driver had not heeded it, leading to the train-car collision.
The car was badly damaged under the impact. The Salem division also clarified that railways has appointed ‘Gate Mitra’ for all the unmanned level gates within its division. The Salem division has also been conducting various awareness programmes for road users at unmanned crossings.
