The accident spot in Dakshindari

KOLKATA: A 45-year-old man, who was reportedly busy talking on his mobile phone while walking down the railway tracks, died after being hit by a local train in Dakshindari, close to Lake Town, on Saturday. Police said the victim, identified as Gautam Haldar, was reportedly run over by Krishnagore Local between 8am and 8.30am.

The local Chitpore GRP rushed him to RG Kar Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The police have sent the body for post-mortem. “We have recovered the body. The possibility that he was talking on the phone while walking on the tracks cannot be ruled out. However, we are yet to find a witness. A probe is on to ascertain the exact sequence of events,” said Asesh Biswas, SRP (Sealdah).

A study by the GRP in 2018 had shown that the use of cellphones can be blamed for around 14%-16% of track deaths within the Sealdah GRP’s jurisdiction (the Sealdah-Bongaon route and the Sealdah-Behrampore route). The victims included both commuters and trespassers.“The cellphone-earphone combination is deadly and makes it difficult for the user to realise how close a moving train may be,” a top railway police officer said.

