CHENNAI: A railway employee was run over by a train while crossing the railway track near Thiruvottiyur railway station on Thursday.
The police said that the man's father, also a railway employee, had died in a similar train accident in 2024 near the same spot.
Following his father's death, the man had secured the job on compassionate grounds.
According to the Korukkupet Government Railway Police (GRP), V Kishore Kumar (23) was a resident of Thilagar Nagar 1st Street, Kaladipet, and was posted at Tiruvallur railway station.
Kishore is survived by his mother, who runs a part-time catering business, and his brother Lithish Kumar, a BSc student.
Speaking to TNIE, Kishore's family friend Nithyasaravanan said, "Around 5pm, he was heading to Thiruvottiyur to board a train to Tiruvallur. The police told us that he tried to cross the tracks as it was a shortcut to reach the station. He was crossing the tracks when he saw an EMU and the express train coming towards him from both sides. As he tried to move away from the EMU, the express train ran over him. He sustained severe injuries and died on the spot."
Police sources said that the foot overbridge at the Thiruvottiyur railway station is currently closed for renovation work.
Following the incident, officials from the railway department met with the family and initiated the procedure for paying compensation. They have been handed an amount to conduct the funeral, Nithyasaravanan said.
Talking about the death of Kishore's father, Venugopal, Nithyasaravanan said that Venugopal had medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. He would frequently pass out and collapse.
"In 2024, Venugopal was walking along the railway track close to the spot where Kishore died. The police said that he must have collapsed and fallen on the tracks, and a train ran over him. He died on the spot," Nithyasaravanan said.
The police have registered a case.