Mangaluru: NRI’s 6-yr-old son crushed to death by train in front of brother

Mangaluru, Sept 24: A six-year-old boy, who was returning home after purchasing chocolates, was run over by a train near the Mahakalipadpu railway level crossing here on Saturday.

The victim has been identified as Muhammad Hussain Haafil (6), the eldest son among three children of Anwar and Shameena couple from Mahakalipadpu, and a Class 2 student of Cassia St Rita English Medium School, Jeppu. Anwar, has been working in Saudi Arabia as a driver for past six months. 

According to the Government Railway Police, Haafil, returned from the school around noon to his house across the double railway track between Nethravati Cabin and Mangaluru Junction Railway Station.

After sometime, he went with his younger brother Muhammad Junaid (4) and two others to a shop across the railway track to buy chocolates.

While returning from the shop, Train No 22629 Dadar-Tirunelveli was on its way from Manglauru Junction towards the Netravati Cabin.

Mohammed Haafil got hit by the train and was dragged for a distance of nearly 80 metres. Fortunately, his younger brother managed to cross the double track in time. 

Local residents soon rushed to the spot and took the mutilated body to a hospital.

The victim’s mother had instructed the kids to buy chocolates from a nearby shop. However, they had to cross the tracks as that particular shop was closed, sources said. 

The railway police personnel said that this was the first such accident on the double track near Nethravati Cabin, though movement of trains is clearly visible.