Head-On Collision of Goods Trains in Jharkhand: 2 Loco Pilots Dead, 4 Hurt

Rail Accident in Sahibganj District

Two loco pilots died, and four others were injured when two goods trains collided head-on in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district early Tuesday morning.

Incident Details

• The accident happened around 3:30 am on the same railway track at the NTPC gate in Barhet along the Lalmatiya-Farakka MGR line.
• A coal-laden train moving towards Farakka crashed into a stationary train, causing a massive impact.
• Both engines derailed, along with some bogies, and a fire erupted in the coal-laden train.
• Fire brigade vehicles from the Sahibganj district headquarters rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire and rescue the victims.

Deceased and Injured Identification

The deceased loco pilots were identified as Ambuj Mahto from Bokaro and B S Maal from Bengal. The injured victims were promptly taken to the Barhet-based government health center.

Investigation and Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner’s Statement

Senior officials from NTPC, railway, and the local administration arrived at the collision site after learning about the incident. According to Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hemant Sati, the collision occurred due to the negligence of both loco pilots. Railway officials are investigating the exact cause of the accident along the Lalmatiya-Farakka MGR line, which is dedicated to the transportation of coal from the Lalmatiya-based Rajmahal coal project of the ECL.

Key Points

• Two loco pilots died, and four others were injured in a head-on collision between two goods trains on the Lalmatiya-Farakka MGR line in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district.
• The crash occurred around 3:30 am when a coal-laden train hit a stationary train near the NTPC gate in Barhet, causing derailment, fire, and damage to multiple bogies.
• Firefighters from Sahibganj headquarters put out the blaze before rescuing victims, while the injured were taken to a government health center in Barhet.
• Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner stated that initial evidence suggests negligence by both loco pilots, with railway officials investigating the exact cause of the accident.

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