Sambalpur, June 30: One person was killed and three injured when the Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express rammed into a tractor at an unmanned railway level crossing today.
The accident took place at Kumkagaon between Maneswar and Hatibari railway stations on the Sambalpur-Puri route, around 30km from here. The deceased has been identified as Kanhu Mirdha, who worked as a labourer. The injured — Ahalya Mirdha, Pratima Mirdha and Uttara Mirdha — are also daily wager earners. The injured have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital.
“The labourers were going to work from Kumkagaon. The deceased, Kahnu Mirdha, was driving the tractor when it was hit by the train. Mirdha died on the spot,” said an official.
The accident took place around 6.45am. Additional divisional railway manager Jyotindra Diggy and other officials rushed to the spot upon receiving the news. The movement of trains on the route was affected for around half an hour. Following the accident, angry residents of Kumkagaon demonstrated at the level crossing. Railway officials, police and officials of district administration rushed to the spot and persuaded the villagers to call off their agitation.
One of the protesters, Sachetan Naik, said: “Had the driver of the train used the horn, the accident could have been avoided. We have been demanding an overbridge at this crossing for a long time, but no one listens.”
Sambalpur sub-collector Rainu Singh, who had gone to the spot to interact with the protesters, said: “It is an unfortunate incident. I had visited this unmanned level crossing around one-and-a-half months ago. I had also proposed to set up an overbridge here and the plan has been approved.”
Singh said the district administration would give Rs 10,000 to the family of the deceased from the Red Cross fund. Additional superintendent of police Dilip Kumar Deo said agitators had withdrawn from the spot following an assurance from the railway officials that they would look into their grievances and the situation in the area was normal now.
