Lucknow: A 55-year-old woman and her 25-year-old daughter-in-law were killed after being hit by Vande Bharat Express train while crossing railway tracks near Atwai railway crossing in the Ahirauli area of Ambedkar Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, police said.The deceased were identified as Nirmala (55), a resident of Katra, and her daughter-in-law Sona (25). The incident occurred on the Akbarpur–Ayodhya railway section near the Atwai crossing. Both women died on the spot after sustaining severe injuries, according to officials and eyewitnesses.Family members said the two had gone to the Atwai Muriyapur area to collect snails and were returning when they tried to cross the tracks at a point around 500 metres away from the designated crossing. Eyewitnesses said Vande Bharat Express, travelling towards Lucknow via Akbarpur and Katehri stations, approached as they were attempting to reach the other side and hit them.Local residents said the train continued on its route after the collision without stopping, triggering panic in the area as people gathered near the tracks.Police and railway personnel reached the location after receiving information and began an investigation. Initial efforts to confirm the victims’ identities included contacting village head Jai Prakash Patel and a local fair-price shop dealer, and tracing relatives.The bodies were identified after Nirmala’s son, Grinka, was brought to the site. Ahirauli SHO Dinesh Kumar Singh confirmed residents’ statements that the women were hit by Vande Bharat Express. Bheethi Circle Officer Laxmikant Mishra said further action was underway. Katehri station master Virendra Sagar said station authorities had not received any report from the train’s driver or guard.
