3 die in separate train mishaps at Piduguralla

Piduguralla: Rail mishaps claimed three lives in separate incidents between Piduguralla and Bellamkonda railway stations on Thursday night and Friday morning. A 65-year-old woman slipped from Palnadu Express, going from Guntur to Vikarabad on Friday morning near local railway gate. The seriously injured woman died while being shifted to Gurajala Government Hospital. While a 30- year- old man died under Macherla Express train on Thursday night, a 55-year-old man was crushed to death under Chennai Express on Thursday midnight. On information, Nadikudi Railway SI Naga Raju visited the accident spot and collected details. The SI said while the woman victim was found to be mentally unstable, the two other men were believed to have committed suicide. Investigtion will be taken up on the other possible reasons for committing suicides, he said. The death of the grievously injured woman in Palnadu Express could have been averted had the police and the 108-Ambulance arrived on time and shifted her to the hospital in time, according to eye witness sources. When this was brought to the notice of the police, Railway SI Nagaraju blamed it on shortage of staff. While accepting that it took some time for the police to arrive at the spot from Nadikudi railway station, he denied any lapse on the part of police in this regard.