Truck rams into Rajdhani Express in MP; 2 coaches derail

Passengers of the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express had a narrow escape Thursday when a speeding truck breached a level crossing here and rammed into the train, derailing two of its coaches, officials said.

One person travelling in the truck was killed, but it was not clear whether he was the driver, they said, adding that no passenger on the train was injured.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ratlam, R N Shankar, said it is "not a simple accident" and an investigation would be conducted.

"Fortunately, the truck hit the coaches near the toilet and no one was there at that time. Had it hit the part of the compartment which has berths, it could have caused injury to passengers," he said.

The accident took place between 6.30 and 6.45 am when the truck rammed into the train after breaking the closed level crossing gate on Sajeli road between Thandla and Meghnagar railway stations under Western Railway, Jhabua district's Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Jain said.

The Rajdhani Express was on its way to Hazrat Nizamuddin from Thiruvananthapuram when the accident took place, he said.

"Four set of wheels of coach B-7 and two of B-8 derailed in the incident. Nine coaches of the train were halted at the spot, including the two derailed ones," the DRM said.

All passengers of those coaches were accommodated in the remaining coaches, including the air-conditioned ones, and the train later left for its onward journey, he said.

Traffic on both up and down tracks has been restored, he added.

Asked by when the investigation into the incident will be completed, the DRM said it will take time as the local administration is also involved in the probe.

The sand-laden truck, registered in Gujarat, was severely damaged in the mishap, a police official said.

The deceased was identified as Salim (35), a resident of Vadodara district in Gujarat, he added.

"We have also come to know through locals that the deceased was a cleaner of the truck and not its driver. This is being investigated," the DRM said.