18 die as train hits four-wheeler

Eighteen people including 15 women were killed and three injured when the four-wheeler they were travelling in was hit by the Garib Rath Express at an unmanned railway crossing in Bihar’s Madhubani district on Sunday around 12.30pm.

Eighteen people including 15 women were killed and three injured when the four-wheeler they were travelling in was hit by the Garib Rath Express at an unmanned railway crossing in Bihar’s Madhubani district on Sunday around 12.30pm.

HT Image

Madhubani district magistrate Sanjeev Hans said the victims, hailing from Bharia-Bishanpur panchayat under Rajnagar block, were going to participate in victory procession of a woman elected the head of village. The accident occurred at Mangarpatti village, about 160 km north of state capital Patna.

Police said 12 people were killed on the spot, five died on way to hospital and one person succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Train services on the route were paralysed as the mangled body of the four-wheeler, a Bolero, got entwined in the rail engine. At the time of going to press, the Garib Rath was stuck at the spot with a large number of passengers.

Samastipur divisional railway manager SP Trivedi said efforts were on to resume the train’s journey.

Kumar also spoke to the general manager of the East Central Railway (ECR) and demanded relief for the affected families. He sought a barricade at the unmanned crossing.