BALANGIR: Three persons of a family were killed on Tuesday when they were hit by a train at an unmanned level crossing near Gunchitara village under Titlagarh police limits in the district.
The deceased have been identified as Niranjan Sahu (45), his wife Nilendri (38) and daughter of Niranjan’s elder brother Puja (20) of Gunchitara village. Reports stated that the incident occurred while they were returning to their village from Titlagarh. As they were crossing the railway tracks, Tapaswani Express, plying between Sambalpur and Rayagada, ran into them.
Demanding compensation for the family of the deceased and a watchpost at the place, locals staged a dharna on the railway tracks disrupting train services for eight hours.
The services resumed after Titlagarh Sub-Collector Kailash Sahu reached the spot and pacified the agitators. He also sanctioned Rs 2,000 for each victim from Harischandra Yojana and Rs 5,000 from Red Cross Fund.
It was also decided that the Collector will recommend to the State Government to release Rs one lakh as compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.