Two young girls died after being hit by a train near the Nangloi railway station in outer Delhi on Friday afternoon. The tragedy prompted hundreds of angry locals to block the railway line in protest, disrupting services for some time.
According to a police officer, the incident occurred around 1 pm. The victims were identified as Raunak Khatoon, 7, and Sahista, 8. Both girls sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Crowd Halts Train Services
Immediately after the accident, a crowd of about 700 local residents gathered at the scene and blocked the railway tracks. "The crowd became agitated over the accident and initially refused to disperse, which disrupted train services on the busy line for some time," an officer said.
A heavy police force, including personnel from the local station and the Government Railway Police (GRP), was deployed to maintain law and order. Senior officers were sent to pacify the crowd and persuade them to clear the tracks. After some effort, the situation was brought under control, and train movement was restored. The GRP and local Nangloi police are now investigating the cause of the accident.
Family Devastated By Loss
Sahista’s maternal aunt, Nagina Khatoon, said the accident happened as the two girls were returning home from school with a friend. "They were going home as usual when two trains came on the tracks from opposite directions," she told PTI. "In the confusion, they lost their lives."
The family is overcome with grief. "Her parents are in shock," Khatoon said. "Sahista was their eldest daughter, in whom they had placed their hopes. They loved her very much and had many dreams for her future. Now, those dreams have been shattered in an instant."
Holding back tears, she added that Sahista leaves behind a seven-year-old sister who cannot comprehend the tragedy. "She keeps asking when her sister will return," the aunt said. "No one has the courage to tell her the truth."