In a devastating incident that highlights the perils of unmanned railway crossings, five members of a family, including two young children, lost their lives after being struck by a freight train in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district.
The Tragic Collision at Roza Junction
The accident occurred around 7:30 PM on Wednesday near Roza Junction. The victims were attempting to cross the tracks at an open and unmanned railway crossing located beyond the station platform. According to police, a freight train collided with the motorcycle on which all five family members were riding.
Victims Identified, Returning from Market
The deceased have been identified as Hariom (40), a resident of Banka village in Lakhimpur Kheri; his brother-in-law Sethpal from Bikanna village in Shahjahanpur; Sethpal's wife Pooja (35); and their two children, Surya (4) and Nidhi (5). The family was returning home after shopping at a weekly market when the tragedy struck.
Police and Government Railway Police (GRP) officials stated that the impact of the collision was extremely severe. The motorcycle was caught under the train and dragged for nearly 500 metres along the track.
Official Response and Investigation
Teams from the Roza police station and GRP rushed to the location immediately after receiving information. They secured the site and took custody of the bodies. Inquest proceedings were conducted at the spot before the bodies were sent for postmortem examinations.
SSP Shahjahanpur Rajesh Dwivedi confirmed that all five victims died on the spot. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. He directed district officials to reach the spot immediately, ensure relief procedures were completed without delay, and extend all possible assistance to the families. The Chief Minister also ordered a thorough probe into the incident.
This tragic event underscores the ongoing safety concerns associated with unmanned railway crossings in the region, leading to calls for urgent infrastructural reviews and preventive measures.
