Patna: A major train mishap was averted on Darbhanga-Sitamarhi section of the east central railway on Friday after a speeding train rammed into a sand and stone chips-laden tractor at a railway crossing in Sitamarhi, around 135km north of Patna.

The mishap occurred around 4.30pm when Raxaul-Hyderabad Express was on way to Raxaul from Darbhanga. The tractor developed a technical glitch on the tracks while crossing the railway crossing. The driver abandoned the tractor on the tracks and jumped to safety.

Though three railway gangmen, who were patrolling, tried to stop the train by showing the driver a red cloth, the train hit the tractor causing extensive damage to it. No passenger was injured in the accident. The train later left for Raxaul. Traffic came to normal after the ill-fated tractor was removed from the spot.

On the other hand, three persons were killed in a road accident after a truck hit a motorcycle on National Highway- 31 in Khagaria on Thursday night. The incident occurred when a truck coming from the opposite direction collided with the two-wheeler, carrying them, near Devtha Bajrangbali Chowk under the jurisdiction of Pasraha police station.

"The three persons were returning home after attending a party at their relative's house at Narayanpur," Pasraha police station house officer Ashish KumarSingh said.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ejamul, Mohammad Ajmer and Mohammad Kaiser, the SHO said.