Varanasi-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express Hits Bulldozer, Engine Damaged
On Saturday, a bulldozer and an express train in Varanasi, which was on the way to Mumbai, collided, causing chaos. Train traffic on the Varanasi railway line was impacted by the incident, which happened close to the Neembur village in the Chandauli district.
Authorities say that close to the Vyasnagar station in Varanasi Division, a bulldozer that was attempting to cross the railway tracks was struck by the Varanasi-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express (Train No. 12168).
Varanasi-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express Hits Bulldozer, Engine Damaged pic.twitter.com/B1SJRRDlnA
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Following the impact, the train pulled the bulldozer for around 500 metres until the locomotive driver was able to stop it. The train’s engine developed a small crack, and the bulldozer’s driver was hurt.
On either side of the train, which had been still for nearly two hours, the people congregated. On the train, no injuries were reported to any passengers.
ADRM Varanasi, Lalji Chaudhary opined that the crash happened as a result of a bulldozer making an unlawful crossing. Both passengers and goods were unharmed.
A committee has been established to look into the incident.
Train operations on this rail route were impacted for almost four hours following the event. Railway officials arrived at the scene and made arrangements for another bulldozer to clear the damaged machine from the track.
Train operations on the line are progressively returning following the restoration of the damaged railway track, said officials.
“I was going to Mumbai from Varanasi. Thirty minutes after departing Varanasi Central, the train came to a standstill. My daughter and I were on the train when there was a sudden jolt, and she collapsed. I was baffled by what had occurred. When I looked outside, I saw villagers stopping the train from both sides,” a train passenger said.
“When I got off, I saw that there was a big bulldozer stuck next to the train that had crossed the railway tracks without clearance. It had shattered into two parts, as I could see,” he said.
