Five killed as two goods trains collide in Orissa

Keonjhar (Orissa), Aug 31 (ANI): At least five people were killed and several others got injured when two goods trains coming from opposite directions collided head-on in Orissa's Keonjhar District on Wednesday.

The five persons, who were killed in the accident, include trains' drivers and assistants, and a railway surveyor, who was on the spot at the time of the accident.

Due to the impact of the crash, several bogies of the two trains were completely destroyed and remains of the mangled compartments could be seen lying on the railway track.

Many of the compartments had even overturned due to the magnitude of the collision.

The accident occurred when a freight train loaded with iron ore collided with another oncoming goods train near a local railway station in Keonjhar in the wee hours of Wednesday, revealed senior railway officials.

"Goods trains came from opposite directions. One goods train came from Jakhapura side and the other one came from Keonjhar side. Both entered the Tangariya Pal station at the same time," Commissioner of Railway Safety in Keonjhar District, Sudarsan Nayak, told mediapersons.

"While the train coming from Jakhapura side had come and become stationary on the main line, the central line, the one that came from Keonjhar side, it was carrying iron ore, and it appears that for some reason, it overshot the home signal and hence this accident took place," he added.

Immediately after the accident, alert locals informed the railway authorities and police officials, who instantly rushed to the spot to begin rescue and salvage operations.

According to railway officials, at least four other people have been admitted to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Though the exact cause of the accident has not been ascertained yet, the railways have initiated an inquiry into the matter.

"The inquiry, which is going to be conducted by the commissioner of railway safety, he is a statutory body, and he will conduct a proper inquiry, examine all the witnesses and then come to a firm conclusion and decide as to what is the reason for this accident," said Nayak. (ANI)