Rourkela: Four kanwariyas of a family died after being run over by Mumbai-Howrah Mail near Panpos railway station of Chakradharpur division on Monday. They were residents of Bhilai (Chhatisgarh).
Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased kanwariyas.
The deceased were identified as Ramvriksha Nilesh Das (50), Yamuna Nilesh Das (32), Nilesh Nikhil Das (32) and Lucky Nilesh Das (15). Those who were fortunate were identified as Karan Krishna Das, Raghu Krishna Das and Shiv Ratan.
The tragic incident occurred when seven members of the Kanwariyas� family were on their way to Ghoghardham. The seven had got down at Panpos station. They were walking on the railway tracks. On reaching the Ved Vyas rail bridge, four members waited while three others crossed it. Just then, the Mumbai-Howrah Mail appeared on the tracks, giving no time to the four Kanwariyas to save their lives.
Sources said the bodies of two Kanwariyas fell in Brahmani river while one lay on the tracks. The fourth victim died at the Rourkela government hospital after sustaining critical injuries.
The train driver informed the department authorities about the mishap on reaching Rourkela railway station. Soon railway police and other senior officials rushed to the accident scene, situated 30 km from Ghoghardham.
The kanwariyas were going to Deoghar on the occasion of third Monday of Shravan month.
Earlier on Sunday, around 17 kanwariyas were injured in an accident at Barkatha of Hazaribagh while they were returning from Deoghar.