Three killed as train rams into SUV at unmanned crossing

VARANASI: Three persons, including a girl, were killed when Pratapgarh-Jaunpur Intercity rammed into an SUV at an unmanned crossing near Semri village under the Mirganj police station in Jaunpur on Sunday. Train movement on Varanasi Lucknow line via Pratapgarh remained affected for about an hour following the accident.
According to reports, SUV (UP62 AJ 9025) driver Akhilesh Singh of Najar village under Mirganj police station was taking two unidentified passengers, believed to be father and daughter, from Janghai railway station to their destination.
While passing through the unmanned crossing, he failed to see the approaching train thus resulting in the accident.
The train dragged the SUV up to few metres before coming to a halt. Following the collision, locals and train passengers rushed to the SUV only to find the occupants dead. On being informed Janghai railway station superintendent and personnel of Mirganj police station reached the site.
Mirganj station officer said that the SUV driver was identified as Akhilesh Singh. However, the identity of others could not be ascertained till the filing of the report. The bodies were sent for postmortem.
The police later removed the damaged SUV from the track after which the train resumed its onward journey.