Five people were killed when their car was hit by the Hapa-Tirunelveli Express at an unmanned level crossing at Aroor in Kerala on Sunday.
The car was hurled 100 metres away in the impact of the collision. On hearing the deafening noise, people from nearby areas rushed to the spot to commence rescue operations.
Protesting against the railway authorities, the agitated people did not allow the train to leave for some time. However, the train later left for Tirunelveli, railway sources at Kochi said.
The Kochi-Alappuzha stretch has a string of unmanned level crossing and several accidents had occurred in the area in the past.