By ZIRAKPUR, PUNJAB — In a heartbreaking accident, two minor boys were run over by a passenger train while they were focused on chasing a falling kite near the railway tracks. The incident took place around 6:00 PM on January 25, 2026, near the Harmilap Nagar Colony in the Baltana area. The victims have been identified as Shivam, age 14, and Arush Kumar, age 10. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving neighbors and family members in deep mourning. According to eyewitnesses and the Government Railway Police (GRP), Shivam and Arush were chasing kites on Sunday evening. A kite had drifted toward the railway line, and the two boys, caught up in the thrill of the chase, ran onto the tracks to claim it. Unfortunately, they were so focused on the kite above that they failed to notice a passenger train approaching from behind. The train, which was traveling from Ambala toward Chandigarh, was moving at a high speed. Because the boys were looking up and the surroundings were noisy, they likely didn’t hear the train until it was too late. Both children died on the spot.
Heartbreak for the Families
The loss has been devastating for the families, both of whom belong to hardworking migrant backgrounds living in the Harmilap Nagar area. Shivam was a Class 6 student and the son of Abhimanyu, who works as a caretaker at a private property. Arush Kumar was a Class 4 student and the son of Bal Chandra, who works as a driver.
This tragedy has brought a spotlight back to a long-standing problem in Zirakpur. The railway tracks near the Baltana gate and Harmilap Nagar pass directly through a very crowded residential area.
Because there are no high walls or strong fences separating the tracks from the houses, children and adults frequently cross the lines as a shortcut. During kite-flying season, this danger multiplies. Children often gather near the tracks because it is an open space, unaware of how quickly a fast-moving train can close the distance.
Local residents expressed their anger and sadness following the accident. Many gathered at the site, demanding that the railway administration take immediate action. “We have asked for a boundary wall for years,” said one resident. “Children are children; they will play. It is the responsibility of the authorities to make sure the tracks are blocked off from where families live.”
Following the accident, the GRP team, led by Sub-Inspector Satya Veer Singh, reached the spot to begin an investigation. The bodies were moved to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula for post-mortem examinations before being handed back to the grieving families.
The police have issued a fresh warning to parents in the area, urging them to keep a strict eye on their children, especially during the kite-flying season. “A train cannot stop instantly like a car,” an official explained. “When children are focused on a kite, they lose all sense of their surroundings. We beg parents to ensure their kids play far away from any railway lines.”
Two minor boys lost their lives after being run over by a passenger train while chasing a kite near railway tracks in Zirakpur, Punjab. The tragic incident has reignited concerns about safety measures near densely populated residential areas. Locals are demanding boundary walls and stronger fencing to prevent trespassing and protect children from fast-moving trains.
