An elderly couple from Auckland on a wedding trip to India died after being hit by a train near Ambala City railway station, in Haryana.
84-year-old Sohan Lal Jain and his 80-year-old wife Sita Jain had gone to India to attend the wedding ceremony of their grandson in Indore.
As per the reports from news agency PTI, the tragic accident happened on Monday, March 12 when the couple was crossing the railway crossing near Ambala City railway station.
Railway police officials told media that the elderly couple failed to notice the approaching train and met with the accident. People around the tracks shouted to warn them of the train, but they were unable to respond and died on the spot.
Police were unable to identify the mangled bodies of the couple and were only able to identify the bodies when they found bank passbook that Mr Jain was carrying.
Mrs Sita Lal (Picture supplied by Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust)
Mr Jain’s son in Auckland was later informed of the incident and has travelled back to India to conduct the last rites of his parents.
The couple was associated with different community organisations in Auckland such as Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust and Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust in their senior citizen's programme.
“It is a tragic and unfortunate incident that we lost two members of our family,” Ms Nilima Venkat, manager of Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust told The Indian Weekender.
“The couple was associated with us for more than ten years, and Mrs Sita was so excited about her grandson’s wedding,” Ms Nilima said.
“She was a very bubbly person and was actively involved in our events and activities.
“The couple was planning to host a reception for her grandson here and invited us all to it before she left for India. Our senior centre is in complete shock, and there is a sombre environment amongst our senior members now. We lost two lovely souls,” Ms Nilima added.