CHENNAI: In a tragic incident, three specially challenged children were run over by a Beach-Chengalpattu EMU near Urapakkam when they were playing near the railway track on Tuesday.

The children had reached Chennai only a few hours ago to enjoy the holidays with their parents.

Police said the deceased were Ravi (12), Suresh (14), and Manjunath (11) all three children were studying in the government school for specially-abled children in Karnataka and came to Urapakkam only on Monday evening to meet their parents following the holidays.

Suresh and Ravi, were brothers and deaf. Their father is Iambaiyah who prepares seat covers for the bikes.

The third vcitm Manjunath was speech impaired and his father Anumanden also works along with Iambaiyah. Police said both families are natives of Hubli in Karnataka and they are staying in Urapakkam.

Police said on Tuesday around 12 pm the children were playing near the rail track between Urapakkam-Vandalur by that time they were run over by the Beach-Chengalpattu EMU.

The loco pilot had blown the horn many times but due to hearing difficulties, the children were not aware that the train was approaching them and he was unable to stop the train even after applying the break.

Later the train stopped after the distance but all three children died on the spot.

The Tambaram railway police who visited the spot retrieved the bodies and sent them for post-mortem to the Chromepet GH. The police have registered a case and further inquiry is on.