CHENNAI: A 24-year-old youngster from Cuddalore was killed after he fell from the footboard of the Vaigai Express at the Saidapet railway station here, on Wednesday.

The deceased, identified as P Balamurugan, was working as an operator in a mechanical company in Chennai.

While sitting on the footboard, he fell to the platform and was dragged by the train for a short distance.

"Balamurugan was sitting on the footboard in a compartment of the moving train and when it arrived at the Saidapet railway station around 2:20 pm, he lost his balance and fell to the platform and was moved along with the train for a short distance. He died on the spot due to head injuries," said an official attached to the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The victim's body was taken to a government hospital for autopsy and was later handed over to relatives on Thursday morning, he added.