Goods train runs over five in Vapi

Five people were killed and three others sustained serious injuries on Monday evening when they were hit by a goods train at the Vapi railway station.

The incident occurred when some passengers, who were trying to board the Patna-bound, 9049 Bandra-Patna Express, from the other side of the platform, slipped and fell on the unoccupied railway tracks beside the train. A goods train headed for Mumbai arrived on the tracks just then and ran over five people who died instantly. Three others were seriously injured. The injured were admitted to the Hariya Hospital nearby where their condition is reported to be critical.

Eyewitnesses said that because of the rush in the general compartment of Bandra-Patna Express, some passengers had tried to get in from the other side of the platform. In the ensuing melee, around 15 passengers fell on the tracks adjoining platform number 2. The goods train had arrived so suddenly that the victims had no time to escape, the eyewitnesses said.