Woman crushed under train at Kalay
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
SANGUEM, SEPT 17
A 79-year-old woman from Pokormoll-Kalay, Sanguem, died after she was hit by a speeding train at Kalay on Friday morning.
The incident occurred at about 8.30 am when Bhagi Toko Zangli was returning home after supplying milk at the local milk co-operative society.
While she was in the process of crossing the tracks, the speeding train hit Bhagi, killing her on the spot.
Sources informed that Zangli is the daughter of freedom fighter Navlo Varak from Kalay and Bhagi herself had taken part in freedom struggle. At the time when Navlo was arrested and put behind bars by the Portuguese, Bhagi was also lodged in the prison along with her father for one month, but was later set free. The locals rushed to the spot, but could not help Bhagi, as she died on the spot.
Incidentally, this is not for the first time that a fatal incident has taken place along the tracks at Kalay.
In the absence of a railway over bridge, public is compelled to cross the railway tracks, which is in violation of railway rules.
Though frequent demands have been made by villagers for the construction of a railway over bridge in the locality, authorities have failed to pay heed to the villager’s request.
The question of the need for an over bridge at Kalay was also raised by Sanguem MLA Vassudev Meng Gaonkar during the recent Assembly session, but no positive reply was given by the government.
The villagers have once again urged the government to consider their demand for the construction of the railway over bridge, as it is not only the elder citizens but school-going children are also compelled to cross the railway tracks in the village in the absence of over bridge.
Bhagi is survived by her husband Toko and five children. Railway Police headed by Vikrant Naik conducted the panchanama and later sent the body for post mortem.
