Two potentially serious railway accidents were averted on separate rail sections in Jharkhand on Friday, due to the prompt response of train drivers. While no passengers were injured in either incident, rail services were disrupted and hundreds of travelers faced inconvenience.
The first incident occurred on the busy Howrah–New Delhi route under the Dhanbad Railway Division near Pradhankhanta. An Asansol–Barkakana MEMU passenger train collided with drilling machines that had been placed on the track during maintenance work.
According to railway sources, labourers engaged in railway electrification work under a contractor were using drilling equipment near a bridge at Pradhankhanta.
As the MEMU train approached at speed, workers reportedly signalled the driver to stop but were unable to remove the machines from the track in time. The loco pilot immediately applied emergency brakes after spotting the obstruction. However, several coaches dragged the equipment before the train came to a halt.
The impact triggered panic among passengers, many of whom got off the train after hearing a loud crash. No injuries were reported, though railway machinery worth several lakh rupees was damaged.
The incident has raised questions over safety protocols, as no railway supervisor was reportedly present at the worksite despite maintenance activity being carried out on one of the country's busiest rail corridors.
In a separate incident on the Lohardaga–Tori rail section, seven buffaloes were killed after being hit by the Anand Vihar–Purulia Express (Train No. 14022) near Bandua village in Kudu police station area of Lohardaga district.
Railway officials said a herd of 12 buffaloes suddenly strayed onto the track while being moved by cattle traders. Due to the train's speed, the loco pilot could not stop in time. Seven animals died on the spot, while five others suffered serious injuries.
The train was brought to a halt following the collision, causing anxiety among passengers. Rail traffic on the section was affected, and the train remained stranded at the site for nearly two-and-a-half hours.
Personnel from the Railway Protection Force later cleared the track, allowing the train to resume its journey to Ranchi at around 10 a.m. Both incidents are being examined by railway authorities.
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