Insaf Times Desk

A major accident occurred early Friday morning in Bihar’s Purnia district when four young men were tragically killed and one critically injured after being hit by the Jogbani-Danapur Vande Bharat Express. The incident took place around 4 a.m. near Kasba Station Gumti.

According to reports, all the victims were returning on foot to Purnia after attending the Dussehra fair, walking along the railway tracks. Due to darkness and negligence, they failed to notice the approaching high-speed Vande Bharat Express and were struck.

Three of the young men died instantly at the scene. Two were rushed to Purnia Government Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where one more succumbed to his injuries. Currently, one victim remains in a serious condition.

The news of the accident drew a large crowd. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Kasba police arrived at the site to control the crowd and took the bodies into custody for post-mortem.

Kasba police guard Md. Habibuddin stated that the deceased and the injured were all involved in local work breaking and selling nuts (Makhanaphodi) to support their families.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually inaugurated the Jogbani-Danapur Vande Bharat Express on September 15. The train was launched to connect the Seemanchal region with the state capital Patna, offering high-speed service and modern facilities.

Following the accident, local residents expressed anger, claiming that despite high-speed trains running on the route, adequate safety measures and barriers have not been installed along the tracks. Villagers allege that repeated incidents are caused by negligence and insufficient warning systems.

This tragic incident once again raises serious questions about railway safety measures and public awareness along railway tracks.