A heart-wrenching tragedy struck the Nimtita Noon Shivnagar area of Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Sunday evening when three minors were killed after being hit by a train while crossing the railway tracks. Another boy was critically injured and has been admitted to the hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Seru Sheikh, Rihat Sheikh, and Fekarul Sheikh, aged between 9 and 11 years. Seru and Rihat were residents of Madhupur under Suti police station, while Fekarul belonged to Noon Shivnagar under Shamsherganj police station. The fourth boy, Rihat Sheikh, is currently undergoing treatment in critical condition.
According to Farakka SDPO Sheikh Shamsuddin, preliminary investigation suggests that the accident took place while the boys were crossing the railway tracks in the New Shivnagar area of the Azimganj–Farakka branch. “Four boys fell on the track as trains approached from both directions. One was rescued and admitted to the hospital,” Shamsuddin said.
Local residents have alleged that the tragedy was a result of negligence by the railway authorities. The underpass in the Shivnagar area has reportedly been submerged under six to seven feet of water for several months, making it unusable for pedestrians. Due to the persistent waterlogging, residents are compelled to cross the railway tracks daily to reach their destinations.
Eyewitnesses said that the boys were crossing the tracks when two trains arrived simultaneously from opposite directions. “In panic and confusion, they froze on the spot, leading to the fatal collision. Three boys died instantly, while one was rescued with severe injuries,” said a railway police official.
Soon after the incident, railway police, along with Shamsherganj police and Farakka SDPO, reached the scene and brought the situation under control. The tragic deaths have cast a pall of grief over the villages of Noon Shivnagar and Madhupur.
Angry residents gathered in large numbers, holding the railway authorities responsible for the accident. Local resident Matiur Rahman said, “This happened because of the water accumulation in the underpass. We have been demanding an alternative road for months. The authorities must take action immediately so that no one else loses their life like this.”
The incident has once again highlighted the dire need for better maintenance of underpasses and alternative routes in flood-prone railway areas of Murshidabad.
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