A youth was crushed by a speeding train in Ponneri when he tried to prevent his friend from killing himself.
According to the police, the victim, Venkatesh, 20, his friend Aravind, 25, and a few others had a party after attending a wedding reception in Ponneri. Aravind left the party abruptly and sent a WhatsApp message to Venkatesh, threatening to kill himself on the railway tracks, over insults hurled at him at the party.
Venkatesh frantically searched for his friend and found him after midnight, standing on the tracks on an overbridge above the Arani river.
He tried his best to push Aravind away from the tracks, but a speeding train crossed at the time, crushing Venkatesh. Aravind jumped into the river and sustained injuries. He was admitted to the Government Hospital. The Government Railway police are investigating.
Those with suicidal tendencies can contact the State’s health helpline 104 or Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050 for counselling.