Bhagalpur, Feb. 23: Four persons died and six others sustained injuries after the Jogbani-bound 12488 Seemanchal Express rammed into the autorickshaw they were travelling in.

The accident occurred at an unmanned railway level-crossing at Madruani on the Barauni-Katihar section of East Central Railway this morning.

Villagers blocked the track for three hours in the morning to protest against the accident, which led to a disruption of railway services on the section.

Madruani is located 8km from Naugachia section in Bhagalpur.

According to reports, around 10am, the autorickshaw, which was carrying 15 passengers, was crossing the unmanned level-crossing when the speeding Seemanchal Express rammed into it.

Eyewitnesses said around five or six passengers of the autorickshaw managed to escape unhurt by jumping out of the vehicle in the nick of time.

The train hit the autorickshaw with such force that the mangled remains of the three-wheeler were found at a distance of more than 200m from the spot of collision.

Sources said six-year-old Shabnam Kumari, Golu (3), Buddha Devi (25) and the driver of the autorickshaw, Sudin Mandal (35), succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital.

Six other passengers in the autorickshaw also sustained serious injuries. The condition of Sobha Devi (30) and Kavita Devi (29), who were referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Bhagalpur, is stated to be critical. The others have been admitted to Naugachia hospital and private nursing homes.

All the victims hail from Madruani and its adjourning hamlets. Most of them were going to a health camp in Naugachiya.

The villagers were furious over the railways for not ensuring even the basic infrastructure at the level-crossing.

“Over the past several years, we have witnessed many accidents, most of which have been because of the absence of the basic arrangements at the level-crossing. We have requested the authorities for deputing a watchman and erecting a signal at the level-crossing. But our repeated requests have failed to yield any result,” Chandan Kumar, a villager said over phone.

The sub-divisional officer of Naugachia, Sushil Kumar, rushed to the spot and persuaded the villagers to remove lift the blockade. The agitators obliged around 1.30pm. He assured compensation to the relatives of the victims and promised to find out a permanent solution to the issue.

The sub-divisional officer told reporters that the district administration has urged the railways to provide necessary arrangements so as to prevent such accidents at the level crossing.

“All the injured have been sent to the hospitals for treatment,” the sub-divisional officer added.

The railway officers, who rushed to the accident site, refused to speak to the reporters.

“We are not supposed to brief the media. Higher authorities would reply to your queries,” a railway official said.