Dhenkanal, May 8: Five persons were killed today when Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur Intercity Express hit a vehicle at an unmanned level crossing near Dhalpur, 30km from here, a day after the East Coast Railway celebrated International Level Crossing Awareness Day.

Four persons were injured in the mishap that took place around 10am when the vehicle carrying eight members of a family were hit.

An eyewitness said the impact of the accident was so severe that the vehicle was dragged to a distance of 100 metres.

The victims were first brought to Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital, where five persons, including the driver, were declared dead. Later, the four injured were shifted to SCB hospital. The injured include a one-year-old girl, who lost her mother in the mishap.

Police said the victims, who belong to Talbahal village of Angul district, were going to a relative’s house.

Local people said a gate had recently been installed at the level crossing, but the authorities had not deployed a gatekeeper.

Following the mishap, local people blocked the railway track demanding compensation for the deceased’s family members.

Train services were disrupted on Dhenkanal-Talcher route. While the Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur Intercity Express was brought back to Dhenkanal, three other trains were short terminated. The Dhenkanal collector, superintendent of police and the divisional regional manager of railway from Khurda division rushed to the spot and held talks with the mob.

This is the third incident of train mishap in unmanned level crossings in the state in the past two months. Three persons were killed at the level crossing near Kaipadar Road in Khurda district on April 2, when a mini truck, in which they were travelling, was hit by two trains. On March 26, a tractor driver was killed by Puri-Durg Express near Jenapur passenger halt at Delanga in Puri district.

Unmanned level crossings have been a major concern for the railway authorities. Spurces said that of 1,195 level crossings in three divisions of Khurda, Sambalpur and Waltair, 633 were unmanned.

Chief public relation officer of the railway R.N. Mohapatra said spreading public awareness could reduce the mishaps. “We have set a target to either man or close 50 per cent of the unmanned level crossings in five years. The awareness should be more for the drivers in suburban area who flout the driving norms,” said Mohapatra.