Accident while crossing the railway track; speeding Vande Bharat Express claimed the lives of Malayali nursing students.

Two Malayali students met with a tragic end after being hit by a train while crossing the railway track in Chikkabanavara, near Bengaluru, Karnataka. The deceased were Justin (21) and Sterin (21), both second-semester B.Sc. Nursing students at Saptagiri Nursing College in Chikkabanavara.

Both students hailed from the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala; Justin was a native of Thiruvalla, and Sterin was from Ranni.

This sudden demise of the young students, who were residing in Karnataka for their education, has caused immense sorrow and shock among their families in Pathanamthitta and the college authorities.

Following the accident, the Railway Police registered a case and completed the inquest proceedings. The bodies were moved to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examination. Relatives of the deceased students have traveled to Karnataka to finalize the procedures for bringing the bodies back to their hometowns for the final rites.

This incident raises serious questions about the safety of Malayali students pursuing higher education outside Kerala. The unexpected loss of these students from Pathanamthitta is more than just an accident; it highlights several critical social and safety concerns.

The death of two students at the tender age of 21 is an irreparable loss to their families. The end of young lives who dreamt of a better future while studying in another state is a collective loss to society, far beyond personal tragedy.

The accident suggests a possible lack of safe crossing facilities near the area, or it could be due to ignorance or carelessness regarding safety regulations. The absence of safe walkways or overbridges near railway tracks often leads to such accidents. There is a strong demand that measures should be strictly enforced to provide awareness among students about the dangers of crossing railway tracks.

This tragic death serves as a reminder: Safety precautions are crucial at every stage of life, especially for the younger generation.