Three persons were killed and another seriously injured after being hit by speeding suburban trains in separate incidents near Vikhroli station on Sunday, sparking protests by locals that led to disruption of services on the Central Railway for nearly two hours.
Three people were fatally hit by trains in three incidents while crossing the tracks at suburban Vikhroli since Sunday morning, Government Railway Police Commissioner Tukaram Chavan told PTI.
Another person was seriously injured in the fourth such mishap of the day and admitted to Rajawadi Hospital, he said. Only one of the deceased, Zeebodh Gupta, 18, has been identified, police said.
Following the mishaps, a huge crowd led by local Maharahstra Navnirman Sena legislator Ram Kadam blocked railway tracks at Vikhroli at nearly1.30 pm, bringing train services to a halt.
The crowd blamed the incidents on the lack of a foot over-bridge near the station and demanded prompt action by the railways on their long-pending demand for an over-bridge.
Central Railway PRO Srinivas Mudgerikar said the train services were restored after nearly two hours as protesters were told that the FOB they were demanding had already been sanctioned and work on it would begin soon.
The 'rail roko' was withdrawn after Home Minister R R Patil intervened and said a meeting will be held on Monday to discuss the issue. The meet will be attended by Kadam, other local representatives, railway police and the administration.