GHAZIABAD: Three students died after they came in contact of a train in Link Road area in Ghaziabad on Sunday afternoon. The deceased have been identified as Ishwar (19) and Monu (24), both residents of Shahdra in north-east Delhi who died on the spot, and their friend Kamal who passed away in a private hospital in Kaushambi due to his injuries.

SP (City) SS Yadav said, "Inspired by film Ghulam in which Aamir Khan runs opposite the train, the four tried the stunt at 4.50 pm. Ishwar and Monu were crushed by the train and died on the spot while Kamal sustained severe injuries."

The fourth in the group, Rohit, told police they were headed towards Link Road after distributing pamphlets in Surya Nagar and other nearby areas. When the four friends were passing the tracks at Maharajpur crossing, they got the idea of shooting a video of themselves and the moving train, a police officer said.

"At the time of the incident, Kamal was clicking the video. Ishwar, Monu and Rohit were standing adjacent to the railway track. It was the time for the Sealdah Rajdhani Express to pass. The victims could not judge their distance from the track. On seeing the train close to them, Rohit jumped to save himself but Ishwar, Monu and Kamal came in contact of the train," a senior police official said that Ishwar and Monu died on the spot while Kamal sustained critical injuries.

After the accident, Rohit raised an alarm. Passersby reached the scene and rushed Kamal to a private hospital in Kaushambi. Kamal, too, died at 8.30 pm.

Police added that Ishwar and Kamal are Class XII students of Gandhi Memorial school in Shahdara. Monu and Rohit worked in a printing press at Chawri Bazar in central Delhi.

"The bodies have been sent for post mortem. We have lodged an FIR with Link Road police," the officer said.

Following the incident, locals staged protest demanding an underpass at the crossing. Police reached the spot to calm the agitators. It is pertinent to mention that hundred of trains passes from the crossing but there are no security arrangements around the crossing and people casually roam around the track for their respective places.

