Two persons were killed and two others injured after being run over by a running train at Harauni railway station, about 30 km from Lucknow on Friday morning.

The incident sparked off arson and violence, with mobs virtually burning down the small railway station.

The mob blocked the railway tracks, compelling authorities to suspend all rail traffic on the important Lucknow-Delhi route.

Traffic could not be restored even until 11 am.

According to divisional railway manager R K Gupta, "The incident occurred at about 7.50 am when they were caught under the wheels of the passing Chappra-Gwalior express, while they were jumping over the tracks to catch a Lucknow-bound local train on the platform across the tracks."

He said, "While two died on the spot, two others were hospitalised with grievous injuries."

Within minutes of the mishap, mobs collected at the railway station, ransacking and breaking railway property.

"Shortly thereafter some of them set fire to the room of the station master, who, along with other staff members, sought refuge at the adjoining police station," Gupta added.

The agitated mob continued to demand compensation for those killed. "Since the Railways is not at fault at all, we are not in a position to award any compensation," clarified Gupta.

District authorities were still trying to get a sanction to make some ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of the dead to defuse the crisis.