Close Call at Burhwal Junction: Truck Crash Nearly Sparks Railway Catastrophe
A potentially devastating railway disaster was narrowly avoided on Wednesday night in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district when a heavy dumper truck lost control and plunged approximately 25 feet from an overbridge directly onto active railway tracks at Burhwal junction yard.
The terrifying incident occurred at precisely 9:10 PM on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the railway system and triggering immediate emergency response protocols. According to official statements from the North Eastern Railway (NER), Lucknow division, the sequence of events could have resulted in massive casualties had circumstances been slightly different.
Miraculous Escape for Garib Rath Express Passengers
At the exact moment the truck came crashing down, train number 12204 Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express was passing through the area on the adjacent Down line track. The force of the impact sent debris from the broken bridge railing flying, which struck the upper section of the moving train.
"Debris from the broken bridge railing struck the edge of the train's upper section but no passenger was injured, and the train remained undamaged," confirmed an official railway statement, highlighting what authorities are calling a miraculous escape.
Passengers aboard the Garib Rath Express, which was moving from Barabanki towards Gonda after departing Budhwal station, reported experiencing a deafening sound followed by a heavy jolt. The train immediately came to a halt, prompting concerned passengers to disembark and investigate the source of the disturbance.
Rescue Operations and Railway Disruption
The aftermath of the incident revealed a chaotic scene with the mangled dumper truck lying across the railway tracks. The driver remained trapped inside the severely damaged vehicle as rescue teams rushed to the location.
Police and railway officials quickly established an emergency response, with Circle Officer Garima Pant and Station House Officer of Ramnagar Anil Kumar Pandey personally supervising rescue operations. Barabanki Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya also reviewed the situation on site.
"Our priority is to rescue the driver safely and restore rail operations at the earliest," stated Vijayvargiya, emphasizing the dual focus of the emergency response.
The incident caused significant disruption to rail services, with both tracks towards Barabanki and Gonda being blocked. Relief teams were immediately dispatched from Gonda station to clear the wreckage and assess damage to the infrastructure.
Investigation Underway, Operations Temporarily Suspended
Preliminary reports indicate that one track suffered damage while the other remained blocked by the wreckage, leading to a temporary suspension of all rail traffic on both lines. Railway authorities have assured the public that efforts are underway to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
An official investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the accident. Authorities are examining whether speeding or mechanical failure caused the dumper truck to veer off the overbridge and onto the railway tracks below.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety near critical infrastructure and has prompted calls for enhanced safety measures on bridges adjacent to railway lines.
