Three women run-over by express train near Jhalda station

KOLKATA: Three women were run-over and killed near the Jhalda station in Purulia in the Ranchi division of South Eastern Railway early on Monday. According to railway officials, the three attempted to cross the tracks around 5.42 am even as the 18604 Bhagalpur-Ranchi Express approached.""The train doesn't stop at Jhalda and was proceeding at speed when the driver spotted the women trying to cross the tracks. He applied emergency brakes but couldn't stop the train on time. All three were run over and died on the spot. The three have been identified as Budhini Rajak (45), her daughter Panchami Rajak (20) and Niyati Rajwar (50). All of them were residents of Ward-12, Station Para, Jhalda,"" an SER official said. Soon after the incident, railways minister Mukul Roy announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next to kin of those killed. ""This was an unfortunate incident. I appeal to train passengers as well as the general public to proceed with extreme caution while crossing railway tracks. They should also abide by the rules and regulations laid down while crossing the tracks,"" Roy said.