Ichalkaranji: Student, 17, wearing earphones on rail track killed by Dhanbad Express

A 17-year-old college student from Ichalkaranji, Anushka Santosh Powar, died after being hit by the Dhanbad Express. She was walking on the railway track wearing earphones and talking on her mobile phone when the accident happened. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning near Hatkanangle railway station. News of the accident has cast a pall of grief over the area.

On Wednesday morning, Anushka had come to the Hatkanangle area with two friends. Around 12:30, the three were walking along the railway track near Hatkanangle railway station. At the time, Anushka had earphones in her ears and was talking on her phone. Just then, the Dhanbad Express approached from behind.

As the train drew closer, her friends spotted it. They gestured to Anushka to get off the track and also tried shouting to warn her. But because she was wearing earphones and busy talking on the phone, she heard neither the train's horn nor her friends' voices. Within moments, the train reached her.

The impact of the Dhanbad Express threw Anushka off the railway track. She suffered a severe head injury in the collision. Immediately after the accident, her friends and local residents nearby rushed her for treatment to Hatkanangle Rural Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital examined Anushka, but she died before treatment could begin, which doctors confirmed. On being informed of the accident, a team from Hatkanangle police station reached both the spot and the rural hospital. Police carried out an inquest at the scene and took custody of the body, sending it for a post-mortem.

An accidental death case has been registered at Hatkanangle police station in connection with the matter, and police are investigating further. The accident has devastated Anushka's family, while her friends have also been left deeply shocked.