At least two persons were killed and five others injured after a speeding train rammed into two vehicles at a level crossing in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Tuesday.
The mishap occurred on Monday night between Bhirangi and Harda railway stations when the Kurla-Varanasi Kamayani Express hit a truck and a jeep caught between the tracks, Harda station manager MP Parashar said.
The freak incident took place when the stationery jeep was pushed to the tracks after being rammed from behind by the truck, making it break past the level gate and land on the tracks along with the truck, he said.
The train first hit the jeep and later the truck, following which its driver Subhash Ustad and cleaner Santosh were killed on the spot.
The jeep fell off the track after the collision while the truck got entangled into the engine and was dragged almost 50-60 meters before coming to a halt, he said.
Both the vehicles got badly mangled into the incident while the train engine also suffered damage.
Train driver Rajendra Kumar, two train passengers, jeep driver Kishore Chandure and a woman were also injured in the mishap, Parashar said, adding they were admitted to the Harda district hospital from where two of them were discharged after first-aid.
The accident affected the rail traffic for nearly three hours on both up and down lines and the train could resume its onward journey only after the engine was replaced.
