TRAGEDY ON TRACKS
* The deceased passenger, who was on the foot board was flung out of the train, resulting in instantaneous death
* Identity of the deceased passenger remains unknown for the moment since he was not carrying any ID card with him
* Of three injured passengers, one was taken to a private hospital, Margao since he sustained a deep cut on his hand.
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MARGAO: In a tragic incident, a train passenger travelling by Mangalore-Mumbai Express died after he was flung out of the moving train following the crashing of an uprooted tree on the Balli rail overbridge on Tuesday eveing.
Three other train passengers also sustained injuries on their hand. While two of the injured passengers sustained minor injuries, one person was taken to a private hospital, Margao since he sustained a deep cut on his hand.
Konkan Railway police station in-charge, PI Ram Asare told The Goan that the incident occurred at
around 6.20 pm when the Balli area was hit by gusty winds. He said that information revealed that the tree had landed on the rail over bridge when the train was passing by and the branches protruding towards the tracks injured the three passenger seated inside the S8 compartment with their hands outside.
He said the deceased passenger, who was standing or seating on the foot board was flung out on the ground, resulting in his instant death.
Replying to a question, PI Asare informed that the identity of the deceased passenger remains unknown for the moment since he was not carrying any identity card with him. “May be the deceased belongs to labour class, who had boarded the train. We are trying to ascertain his identity,” he added.
He said while two of the injured train passengers were discharged after first aid, the third one was taken to a private hospital.
Konkan Railway Corporation senior official, Baban Ghatge told the media that the train was heading to Mumbai from Mangalore when the incident occurred. He said the train continued with the onward journey after the injured alighted at the spot after the incident. “The unusual incident took place on account of heavy winds on Tuesday evening near the Balli station. One tree branch, which was bent, hit a passenger travelling on footboard of general coach, who later lost his life. Three other passengers, Naguesh Naik, R J Naik and M Sajid travelling by other reserved coaches suffered minor injuries and were given first aid. This is an unusual incident and is on account of deceased passenger travelling on the footboard,” he said, adding that two of the injured passengers continued their journey after first aid.
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Cyclonic winds leave
a trail of destruction
MARGAO: Strong cyclonic winds left a trail of destruction in some parts of Salcete and Quepem areas of South Goa on Tuesday evening, with a couple of trees coming down on houses at Navelim and Fatorpa. Many areas in Cuncolim and Velim were left without power supply till late Tuesday as a number of electric poles were left damaged by the cyclonic winds.
The Margao fire brigade were kept on their toes after the winds hit many parts of South Goa. A tree came crashing down on the house of one Caitanha Fernandes, causing a loss of over Rs 40,000. The fire brigade also rushed to Navelim to clear two trees which had come down on the road disrupting vehicular traffic.
The fire brigade also rushed to Sarzora as a tree landed on the house. The fire personnel later headed to the Balli, Fatorpa and Morpilla areas of Quepem adjoining Cuncolim, which was hit by strong winds. At Fatorpa, a tree came crashing down on a house, while another tree landed on the tree disrupting traffic.
Given that the Margao fire was busy attending to calls in Navelim and Balli, Fatorpa and Morpilla areas, the Verna fire brigade was requisitioned to clear a tree that came crashing down near the KTC Bus stand.
Executive engineer, Electricity Santosh Lolienkar informed that many parts of Cuncolim, including
Panzorconne, had to go without power supply since Tuesday evening after the winds destroyed half a dozen electric poles. He said that the department personnel were on the job to restore power supply in the areas.
Similarly, the 33KV line supplying power to Velim from Cuncolim was damaged on Goencheabhat area of Velim following the strong winds. Lolienkar said that linesmen and field staff were on the job to restore power supply to parts of Velim.
