Two killed, one injured as train hits car at level crossing

Two members of a family were killed and one was injured when their car was hit by the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express at a railway level crossing in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh district today, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Surjeet Singh Paneswar said three members of family - Bimal Kumar Sarma, his son Arnab and wife Deepa - were returning to their home in Tinsukia district when the accident occurred at Sialkoti.

Bimal and Arnab were killed in the accident while Deepa, who received serious injuries was admitted to Assam Medical College and Hospital at Dibrugarh, the ASP said.

The local people alleged that the gateman was not on duty at the level crossing at the time of the accident.

They held up movement of the train for sometime alleging that the gateman was seen in an inebriated condition and was not on duty at the level crossing at the time of accident, police said.

Relatives of Sarma's also alleged that there was no railway personnel at the manned level crossing and the gate was left open.

Meanwhile, senior Northeast Frontier Railway officials who rushed to the spot, said the gateman of the level crossing has been placed under suspension.

They said the Commissioner of Railway Safety will investigate the incident and will also look into the allegations that the gateman left the level crossing unmanned.