Five killed, 2 injured as train hits stationary bullock cart in Bihar

A part of the cart struck some people standing and they fell down, dying on the spot BIKASH BURMAN, Samastipur SP

PATNA: Five passengers were killed and two others were injured in Samastipur district of Bihar on Thursday when the train they were travelling in collided with a stationary bullock cart at a level crossing.

The victims were travelling on the trains footboard.

The accident occurred near the Hasanpur Road manned level-crossing when the Samastipursaharsa MEMU train bumped into a sugarcane-laden cart.

The mishap took place “near a manned level crossing gate near Hasanpur Road in Samastipurkhagaria section of Samastipur Division at 1550 hours”, said Rajesh Kumar, Chief Public Relaas tions Officer of the East Central Railway zone.

Three of the deceased have been identified as Praveen Kumar, Kanchan Kumar and Ram Babu Rai of Sakarpura locality. The injured, Sonali Kumari and Santosh Kumar, have been admitted to the hospital, where their condition is stated to be serious.

The incident occurred at around 3.50pm when the train was on its way to Saharsa.

the train approached the gate, the oxen of the bullock cart were set free, while the cart remained close to the track. “Though the train was on an adjacent track, a part of the cart struck some people standing on the footboard and they fell down, dying on the spot,” said Samastipur SP Bikash Burman.

However, eyewitnesses said the rail gate was open at the time the train was crossing and the person driving the bullock cart tried to cross the track without noticing the train.

Rajesh Kumar said, “Accident relief medical vans with a team of doctors were sent to the spot.” “Prima facie, it is a case of negligence on part of the person driving the bullock cart,” he added.

(With Agency inputs)