Train passengers of Khurda Road-Howrah route had a harrowing experience on Friday as locals at Bairi in Jajpur district resorted to a Rail Roko following a biker was killed hit by a running train at an unmanned level-crossing near Bairi station at around 10 am. As the news spread locals gathered and sat on the tracks demanding Rs5 lakh for the deceased’s family and immediate construction of manned gate there. Thousands of passengers were stranded for hours at various places and stations on the route due to the Rail Roko, reports said.
Sources said Railway officials assured the agitators that a gate would be erected at the crossing point within 15 days but didn’t make any commitment to pay compensation stating that the biker met with the fatal accident at an unauthorised crossing point. They also argued that the man was warned against crossing the tracks by the ‘gate mitra, guarding the point.