Express train collides with truck at Jharkhand railway crossing, traffic resumes after 3 hrs

A major accident was narrowly averted on the Howrah–Patna railway line in Jharkhand on Thursday after the Gonda–Asansol Express collided with a truck at a railway crossing, triggering chaos and disrupting rail services for several hours.

The incident took place at a railway crossing between Kumdabad Rohini and Shankarpur stations on the Jasidih–Madhupur section at around 9.38 am, railway officials said. 

As per preliminary information, a truck was standing on the tracks at the crossing when the express train approached.

Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene showed several two-wheeler riders attempting to cross the tracks moments before the train arrived. While the bikers managed to move aside after noticing the approaching train, the truck remained stuck on the crossing.

The train’s loco pilot applied the emergency brakes upon spotting the obstruction from a distance, which helped reduce the impact and prevent a major disaster. 

However, the train could not be brought to a complete halt in time and struck the truck. No casualties were reported, officials confirmed.

The collision damaged the train’s engine and left the truck lodged at the crossing. Rail traffic on the busy route was suspended following the accident, affecting several trains. Normal operations were restored after around three hours once the damaged vehicles were cleared and safety checks completed.

Questions have also been raised about whether there was any lapse on the part of the railway gate staff, a matter that is likely to be examined as part of the inquiry into the incident.