In a freak accident, an engineering student was killed after being hit by the force of a speeding train near Akurdi railway station in the early hours of Tuesday. A friend, who accompanied him when the incident happened, also sustained grievous injuries.
The deceased was identified as Prashant Sambhaji Nalawade, 21, a third year engineering student at Pimpri Chinchwad college of engineering (PCCOE) while the injured was identified as Rohit Kumar Singh, 22, who is pursuing a master in business administration (MBA) from Dr DY Patil school of management.
“The two were heading to Pimpri to meet one of their friends. They met at the Gurudwara road around 11:30 pm and Prashant told Rohit that they will take a shortcut that passes through the railway crossing near Akurdi railway station. A passenger train was parked on the tracks when the duo reached the railway crossing. As Prashant wanted to answer nature’s call, the two friends crossed the train and went to the other side where there is a bridge built around 20-25 feet about the ground level. The bridge is located very close to the tracks.
“Just then, around 12:15 am (on Monday morning) the Chalukya Express passed on the track. The speed of the fast moving train caused Prashant to fall head first on the cement blocks under the bridge and Rohit fell on top of him,” said Hawaldar Sanjay Londhe of Chinchwad railway police outpost. Rohit, in his initial statement, has claimed that he called his roommate who found them and told the station master at Akurdi railway station.
{{/usCountry}}“Just then, around 12:15 am (on Monday morning) the Chalukya Express passed on the track. The speed of the fast moving train caused Prashant to fall head first on the cement blocks under the bridge and Rohit fell on top of him,” said Hawaldar Sanjay Londhe of Chinchwad railway police outpost. Rohit, in his initial statement, has claimed that he called his roommate who found them and told the station master at Akurdi railway station.
{{/usCountry}}“Three ambulances arrived 40-45 minutes after the station master called for it. While Prashant was rushed to Star Hospital, Rohit was taken to Aditya Birla hospital. I was the only policeman on duty so I went with Prashant as he had sustained a deep head injury. Aditya Birla hospital had asked Rohit to be taken to some other hospital. So, his friend took him to Vighnaharta Hospital. Prashant had to be taken to Yashwantrao Chavan hospital (YCM), Pimpri,” said Londhe.
Rohit, who has seven fractured bones in his body, is the son of a government servant in Patna, Bihar, while Prashant was the son of a farmer from Bota village near Sangamner, the police said.