Shramjeevi Express crushes bikes, derails

A coach of Delhi-bound Shramjeevi Express derailed before Ghaziabad Junction due to low visibility caused by thick fog. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.

A coach of Delhi-bound Shramjeevi Express derailed before Ghaziabad Junction due to low visibility caused by thick fog.

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“Five bikes were crushed at the railway crossing. There were no casualties and all passengers were safe,” said superintendent of police (SP) AK Vijeta.

The incident took place around 11.30 am when Shramjeevi Express was crossing near Vijay Nagar, a kilometre before the Ghaziabad junction.

“While the train was speeding towards Ghaziabad, a cycle-rickshaw got stuck between the tracks. This caused panic among the people, who left their bikes on the tracks and ran away to avoid other train coming on the nearby track,” said assistant commissioner (security) Railway Protection Force (RPF) JP Meena. Only two person sustained minor injuries.

Gateman Amit Singh told the Hindustan Times the train was travelling at a low speed (12 km/hour), which averted a major tragedy.

“There is heavy traffic in this area and the accident happened due to negligence, besides unauthorised entry of vehicle-owners on the tracks. We plan to speak to the administration to construct walls on both the sides to stop unauthorised entry onto the tracks,” said a senior railway official.

RPF officials said they were trying to trace the vehicle owners through the vehicle registration numbers. “We will lodge a case into the incident once the vehicle-owners are identified,” Meena said. The other coaches of train were later brought to Ghaziabad and set for their onward journey. The tracks were cleared and the traffic was restored by 2pm.