Four Class 12 students killed after Rajya Rani Express train runs over group in Andhra Pradesh

The teenagers were crossing a railway track in Srikakulam after fishing when the train hit them; another student was critically injured.

Four teenagers were killed and another critically injured after the group were run over by the Rajya Rani Express in Srikakulam district on Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place when the group, all Class 12 students, were crossing the railway track near Burma Colony.

The deceased were identified as Visakha Rao, Dileep, Sharath and Shiva, while Salman Raju sustained serious injuries, said officers.

The accident took place when the group, all Class 12 students, were crossing the railway track near Burma Colony on their way back to Ravivalasa after catching fish in a nearby pond.

“The Rajya Rani Express, travelling from Bhubaneswar towards Gunupur, hit them and ran over them, killing four of them on the spot,” a police officer said.

Locals who witnessed the incident immediately alerted the authorities and shifted the injured youth to the Tekkali government hospital.

“The four deceased and the injured person were studying Intermediate (Class 12) staying at the Government SC/ST Students’ Hostel in Tekkali. All five were natives of Damaru village in Tekkali mandal,” the police official said.

Following the accident, railway officials and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief operations.

Tekkali RDO Krishnamurthy also visited the scene and took stock of the situation.

The police examined the bodies that were scattered along the railway track and collected preliminary evidence from the scene. They also gathered information from local residents and examined the belongings and other material found near the victims to establish their identities.

“A case has been registered and an investigation is underway to establish the precise circumstances leading to the accident,” the official added.