German couple killed in train accident

ALAPPUZHA - A German couple from Munich was killed when a train rammed into their vehicle at an unmanned railway crossing in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, police said Sunday.

Fiftyfive-year-old Manfred Herbert and his 47-year-old wife Catherine were killed in the accident near Alappuzhu town around 10.50 a.m. Saturday, while they were on way to consult a doctor in a taxi, police said.

As they were crossing the unmanned level crossing, the Alappuzha-bound Chennai Express rammed into the vehicle, police said.

Two of their adopted children, a six-year old girl of Indian origin and 12-year-old boy of Vietnamese origin had stayed back at the Marari Beach Resort near here where the family checked in Saturday evening.

Speaking to IANS, resort chief Jose Dominic said that Catherine had a rash on her body and an ayurveda doctor referred her to a physician.

“A German guest who is staying with us has now taken the custody of the children, who are yet to be told of the tragedy,” he said.

“We are waiting for a representative of the German consulate from Thiruvananthapuram to process the papers for transporting the bodies of the two,” said Dominic.

Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed who arrived at the accident spot, said that of the 15,993 unmanned railway crossings in the country, 4,000 would soon get guards.