Teenagers taking selfies on rail tracks smashed by train in India

Two teenagers were crushed to death in Indian capital New Delhi by a speeding train while they were busy posing for selfies at a railway track, China's Xinhua news agency reported officials as saying Tuesday.

The duo was killed on Saturday at the Anand Vihar railway station in East Delhi.

Relatives of the victims told police they along with five others had reportedly rented a camera to take pictures for a modelling portfolio.

"Preliminary investigations revealed the teenagers were clicking selfies in front of an approaching train and while doing so they ignored another train coming on the adjacent track," a railway police official quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

"In the confusion the boys tried to jump aside to avoid the speeding train but were crushed on the track," the official said.

The other five accompanying the duo had a narrow escape, as they stood at a distance from their friends. The teenagers were classmates at a private-run school in Delhi.

Police officials said they have seized the camera and ordered an investigation into the deaths. Selfie deaths are not uncommon in India.

Last year seven youths were drowned in river Ganga at Kanpur district, in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, after a selfie session went awry.

Piqued by increasing number of deaths in India in the process of taking selfies at accident prone locations in tourist destinations, India's federal government issued directions to its states asking them to take steps to ensure that tourist attractions are selfie-safe. -- BERNAMA