Two killed, seven injured in UP train mishap

Shahjahanpur, Apr 10 (UNI) At least two people were killed and seven others injured when the Delhi-bound Satyagraha Express collided with an earth excavating equipment at Jahanikheda station in neighbouring Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh in the wee hours of today.

Government Railway Police (GRP) sources in Shahjahanpur said the mishap occurred when a JCB (Jib Crane with Bucket, an earth excavating and handling equipment) dashed against the Satyagraha Express, which was on way to Delhi from Raxaul.

The JCB was engaged in the expansion work at Jahanikhera Halt, which is being converted from a Halt station to a Block station.

While the JCB driver Kudrat Ali, hailing from Hardoi, was killed on the spot, another person, who could not be identified succumbed to injuries at the Shahjahanpur hospital, sources added.

Two of the seven injured have been discharged after prelimnary treatment, five others -- Sahib, Radho, Bachchan Lal Patwa, Kameshwar and Ramdev were being treated at civil hospitals in Roza and Shahjahanpur.

Railway officers from Moradabad and Lucknow Divisions as also from the Northern Railway Headquarters have rushed to the accident site to supervise relief arrangements.

The accident occurred due to the negligence of the contractor who had hired the JCB, the officials said.

The traffic on the Lucknow-Moradabad route was affected for sometime. The train later left Roza station for Delhi after two of its damaged coaches were detached.

UNI ARS MA HT1515