Mrunal Manmay Dash

Six labourers lost their lives after some rakes of a goods train parked near Jajpur Road Railway station allegedly rolled down abruptly and ran over them on Wednesday afternoon.

Two others were also injured in the mishap.

As per initial reports, the train did not have an engine and it was parked on the safety track.

Railway sources informed that the victims were taking shelter under the stationery rakes of the train during a thunderstorm.

The deceased were contractual labourers reportedly engaged by a contractor for Railway work near Jajpur Keonjar Road.

The engine-less train was actually a monsoon reserve rake without engine reserved at the sick line near Jajpur-Keonjhar Road. It rolled on due to heavy thunderstorms, today, said a statement by the Railways

Divisional Railway Official led by DRM Khordha Road rushed to the spot following the mishap.

"Four persons were killed on the spot, while two others succombed to their injuries at the hospital later. The injured have been sent to SCB Hospital in Cuttack for treatment," said Khordha DRM, Rinkesh Roy.

"It is really unfortunate that six persons lost their lives but they should not have gone under the bogies. In fact, no one should ever go under the train bogies. People should take highest precautions while around railway tracks," he added.

Speaking about the probable cause of the mishap, Roy said, "We will conduct an investigation to ascertain the actual reason behind the mishap. But prima facie, it looks like some one has unlocked the operating handles of the bogies. There are hand-brakes in the bogies to keep them stationery on the tracks." 

"We call that a 'Monsoon Reserve Rake' which was stationed loaded with materials to be used in case of any emergency repair work of railway tracks.The rakes probably moved due to severe wind caused by norwester and ran over the people taking shelter under it." said the CPRO of East Coast Railway, Biswajit Sahu.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik expressed his grief over the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each from CMRF for the families of the deceased.     

It is pertinent to mention here that the Coromandel Express had met with an accident at the same place in 2009.

  • Reported by:
  • JANMEJAY DASH
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