Goods train jumps into river as bridge collapsed, five dead

Silchar, June 25 (UNI): Two engines and six compartments of a goods train fell into a river killing at least five people, all railway employees, in North Cachar Hill district of southern Asom this morning.

The accident occurred when a steel bridge over the hilly river, which was in spate, collapsed when the goods train was crossing the section.

Official sources said five bodies, all railway employees, have so far been recovered from the river.

Search was on for bodies as some more feared drowned and entangled inside the compartment.

The bodies have been identified as Noren Thakuria, Sunil Das, Khagan Rabha, Madan Haloi and S Chetri.

However, unofficial sources put the toll at 10 as many unauthorised passengers travel by the goods train every day.

The assistant driver was also critically injured in the mishap.

The accident took place between Diaku and Mufa stations of metre-gauge Badarpur-Lumding Hill section of North-east Frontier Railway, 52 km from Lumding at 1045 hours today.

Significantly, the passenger-loaded Barak Valley train had passed the bridge just minutes before the incident.

Railway sources said the goods train was coming from Lumding to Badarpur and was carrying rice for FCI.

Sources said apart from two drivers, the goods train was carrying 10 other gangmen, who boarded the freight train from Lunting station.

Senior railway officials have rushed to the place.

Sources said the bridge (No 108) in question was under repair for sometime. A pillar of the bridge was complexly collapsed.

Railway officials are yet to ascertain about how many days it would take for restoration of railway service in this 218 km long Badarpur-Lumding section of NF Railway.

UNI