A tragic incident in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district has claimed the lives of a couple who were struck by a train while attempting to cross the railway tracks. The accident occurred on Thursday morning near the Mandi Samiti on Khatima–Pilibhit Road in Rudrapur.
Details of the Fatal Mishap
The victims have been identified as Ram Dutt, 58, and his wife Nanda Devi, 53. Both were residents of Shiv Colony in Khatima. According to reports, the couple was taking a shortcut behind the Mandi Samiti when they were hit by the Pilibhit–Tanakpur train. The impact was severe, and both died on the spot due to the injuries sustained.
Ram Dutt was an employee of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) and was currently posted in Jammu & Kashmir. He had returned to his home in Khatima just five days prior to the accident, availing a 15-day leave. His wife, Nanda Devi, was a homemaker.
Family's Shock and Police Investigation
The couple's nephew, Kishore Joshi, expressed the family's profound grief. He revealed that his uncle and aunt had left home in the morning for Satna. "They often used this shortcut, but we never imagined it would cost them their lives," he said. The sudden loss has sent shockwaves through Shiv Colony, where the family has lived for many years.
The couple is survived by their 35-year-old son, Prakash Chandra Joshi, and other family members, including grandchildren. Following the accident, police sent the bodies for postmortem to the sub-district hospital in Khatima.
Khatima Station House Officer (SHO) Bijendra Shah provided details on the ongoing probe. "It appears that the couple tried to cross the railway track using a local shortcut when the train suddenly approached. We are examining all angles, and the Government Railway Police (GRP) has also initiated an inquiry," he stated.
A Preventable Tragedy and Safety Appeal
SHO Bijendra Shah used this tragic event to issue a crucial safety warning to the public. He strongly urged residents to avoid crossing railway tracks from unauthorized points, emphasizing that such tragedies are entirely preventable. The incident underscores the persistent danger of using shortcuts across active railway lines, a common but hazardous practice in many areas.
The local community in Shiv Colony is in mourning, grappling with the untimely loss of the couple who were well-known in their neighborhood. The police investigation continues to piece together the final moments of the incident.
