Truck hits Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express, 2 coaches derail

Ratlam/New Delhi: Passengers of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express had a miraculous escape on Wednesday when two of its coaches derailed after being hit by a truck at a manned level crossing near Thandla in Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

Even as no passenger was injured, the truck driver identified as Mohammad Salim later succumbed to his injuries.

Rajesh Dutt Bajpai, Media and Corporate Communication Director, Railway Ministry, told IANS here that the incident took place at around 6.44 a.m. when the truck broke the gates of a manned level crossing between Meghnagar-Thandla Road stations on Ratlam-Godhra section and hit the B7 and B8 coaches of the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express.

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The official said that at the time of the accident, the gates of the manned level crossing were closed for traffic as the train was approaching.

Western Railway spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar said that Salim, a resident of Vadodara, Gujarat, who sustained serious injuries later died.

He said that the passengers of the two derailed coaches were shifted to different coaches.

Due to the accident, the traffic on the Mehnagar-Thandla route was affected for few hours.

Bhakar said that traffic was restored on the line and the Janata Express passed the track at 9.40 a.m.

The two derailed coaches of the Rajdhani were also derailed.

IANS