Man clambers up train to retrieve slippers taken by monkey, charred to death by high-tension wire in UP

AGRA: A 26-year-old man was burnt alive at Kasganj railway station when he climbed onto the roof of a stationary train, the 15037 Kasganj - Farrukhabad express, to retrieve the slipper of a woman that was taken away by a monkey. He was burnt alive after accidentally touching a 25000-volt overhead line, which supplied power to the train. According to railway officials, the man, identified by his first name, Ashok, used to work at a shop on the railway platform.
Station master Manoj Sharma said, "The unfortunate incident took place at around 4 pm on Thursday when the train was at platform number 2. The victim was trying to help an elderly passenger when he came in contact with the high-tension line and was charred to death on the spot."
"Soon after getting information about the incident, the control room was asked to cut off the power supply. The fire over the train was extinguished and the severely burnt body was brought down," he added.
A relative of the victim, who also works at the platform, told TOI, "There were no railway protection force or government railway police personnel on the platform to stop Ashok from climbing atop the train. After he came in contact with the high-tension line, three blasts occurred and he got completely burnt within 10 minutes. Railway officials came into action after much delay."
Reacting to the incident, Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector RP Singh said, "The incident is being thoroughly investigated. A sub-inspector has been tasked to identify lapses which resulted in this episode."
According to local residents, monkeys are a big nuisance at the platforms of Kasganj railway station. "Monkeys have been causing damage to equipment and have also been attacking the passengers. The matter has been repeatedly pursued with the district administration and the forest department but so far no action has been taken," a railway official said, requesting anonymity.
Monkey menace has resulted in at least 15 deaths across the Agra region in the last year. In three different incidents earlier this week, two women died and another one was critically injured after falling down from the roof of their house in a bid to escape attack by a group of monkeys.