Mumbai: A goods train on Wednesday crushed 15-year-old Austin Anthony, while he was passing luggage to his family on the tracks at Vasai. The high school boy studied in Bharati Vidya Bhavan School in Kerala.
While he was returning to Kerala, the family decided to cross the tracks onto platform number 7 To avoid the foot over-bridge as they had heavy luggage with them. They had to leave by the Indore-Kochuveli Express and arrived at Vasai station at 10.30am, nearly an hour before the train arrived, reported the ht.
The goods train was parked at the platform, while he stood between two container coaches helping to pass the luggage to his father on the platform, the train moved a little. The boy fell on the tracks between the two coaches making the family watch him cut down by the train.
“The goods train started moving suddenly and Austin lost balance and fell in the gap between the tracks, and the train ran over him, killing him instantly,” said Salim Taj, who witnessed the incident. “The father tried to rescue him but in vain. He suffered head injuries and was administered first aid.”
A case has been registered by Vasai GRP of accidental death and the dead body has been flown to Kerala for the funeral on Wednesday evening.
Ravinder Bhakar, CPRO, Western Railway (WR), said passengers avoid using the over-bridge and take short cuts through the tracks, risking their lives. “The family should not have used the tracks. The WR had constructed a stone wall all along the eastern side of Vasai Road station, but people drill holes. We reconstruct it but more such breaches are made.”