Indian Express

7-yr-old falls off train in Kerala, dies

Express news service Posted online: Fri Dec 28 2012, 01:14 hrs
New Delhi/ Thiruvananthapuram : A Class III student of Convent of Jesus and Mary, Central Delhi, died after she fell through the emergency exit of a moving train in Palakkad, Kerala, on Wednesday.

Seven-year-old Jiya Anna George lost her life while travelling with her father George Joseph, an automobile engineer, and elder brother Jis Mathew George, to celebrate Christmas in their hometown, Kottayam.

Her mother, Shiny, formerly a nurse at RML Hospital was waiting for the family in Kottayam. She was in Kerala for higher studies.

According to police, the family was travelling in a sleeper coach of Kerala Express (New Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram). While Jiya and Jis were playing near the window seat, the girl fell through the emergency exit window, which had its safety grills pulled up. Her father raised an alarm and the train stopped 2 km from the spot where Jiya fell.

When he reached the spot, Joseph took his seriously injured daughter to a private hospital around 20 km from the spot. The girl died before reaching the hospital. Other passengers took Jis, a Class VII student of St Columba’s School, to Kottyam in the same train. Jiya’s funeral was held in Kottayam on Thursday.

Jiya lived near RML Hospital in the Capital with her father and brother. The principal of CJM, Sister Janet, said Jiya was an active, bright, alert and happy child.

The school conveyed its condolences in a statement.