Two drunk men hit by train while crossing track near Coimbatore, battle for lives

COIMBATORE: Two drunk youths were hit by a train while trying to cross the track near Mettupalayam railway station on Saturday morning. Critically injured, both are battling for their lives.The govt railway police identified the injured duo as V Vigneshwaran, 25, and his friend C Prakash, 21, both residents of Shanthi Nagar near Mettupalayam. They were labourers.“Vigneshwaran lost his right leg and right hand in the incident, while Prakash sustained head injuries. Both are admitted to the intensive care unit at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH),” a police officer said.He said the incident occurred when the duo were attempting to cross the railway track around 6am in an inebriated state to visit a friend at Bharathi Nagar. “Suddenly, the Nilgiri Express, operating from Chennai Central to Mettupalayam, struck them. On seeing the duo, the loco pilot had sounded the horn. But the youths did not notice the approaching train.”The loco pilot later informed police that two people were hit by the train while trespassing on the track.The railway police rescued the injured and rushed them to the govt hospital at Mettupalayam, where doctors gave them first aid and referred them to CMCH.Police have registered an accident case based on the loco pilot’s statement. Police said while there was an underpass near the accident site, residents were often not using the same.