Second train tragedy in Odisha in less than a week, 6 labourers killed

Bhubaneswar/Jajpur: A monsoon Reserve Rake without an engine reserved at the sick line near Jajpur-Keonjhar Road rolled on due to heavy thunderstorms, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) clarified today.

As a result, some contractual labourers engaged by a contractor for an ongoing Railway work, who had taken shelter under the stabled rake to get protection from the wind and rain of Nor’wester near Jajpur Keonjar Road, were run over leading to the mishap, a spokesperson of the ECoR said.

As many as six persons were run over and two were injured in the incident. Necessary steps are being taken by the Railways in this regard. Divisional Railway Official led by DRM Khurda Road rushed to the spot in a quick response, the ECoR spokesperson asserted.

The deceased have been identified as Manas Samal, Goutam Samal, Susanta Jena, Dolagobinda Pradhan, Bhimsen Jena and Prasanta Jena.

The injured persons were taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack by Railways for their treatment.

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It is pertinent to mention, the daily-wagers died after they were run over by a goods train in Jajpur district of Odisha earlier in the day.

The fatal mishap occurred close on the heels of the death of 288 passengers in a tragic 3-train accident in Odisha’s Balasore on June 2. The train crash took place near Bahanaga Bazaar railway station in the district, making it the most disastrous train accident in the State.

More than 1,000 passengers sustained injuries in the mishap.