Rourkela-Biramitrapur train hits two brothers crossing railway tracks in Odisha, both die

In a tragic accident late Tuesday night, two brothers from Basanti Colony of Haripur Basti in Rourkela lost their lives after being hit by a passenger train while attempting to cross the tracks. The incident occurred near the Rourkela–Biramitrapur passenger train line, informed sources.

Reports added that the brothers, whose identity is yet to be formally disclosed by the police, were crossing the railway tracks late at night when the train hit them. Sources reported that the area was more or less deserted.

Following the accident, locals passing through the area saw them lying motionless on the tracks and informed local authorities. An ambulance was dispatched to the area, but medical assistance could not save them.

Thereafter, the Rourkela GRP reached the site, recovered the bodies, and sent them to Rourkela Government Hospital for post-mortem procedures.

Local residents described the area as poorly lit and blamed the lack of safety measures like barriers near the railway line. While the exact cause of the accident is under investigation, preliminary reports suggest the brothers may not have noticed the approaching train in the dark.

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Broader safety concerns in Odisha railways

This incident comes amid a spate of similar tragedies in Odisha. On Monday, a man’s body was discovered in a coal-laden goods train at Paradip Port. The train, which transported coal from the Talcher mining area, reached the port on Sunday afternoon.

While unloading at the Mechanical Coal Handling Plant (MCHP), workers found the deceased buried under coal in one of the wagons. The body remained inside the wagon tippler for almost a day, halting coal unloading operations.

Authorities have yet to identify the individual. A similar incident had occurred barely a week earlier, when another dead body was found face down in a coal train wagon at the port.