THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan 31: A high-powered WAG-12B electric locomotive hit a guard-cum-brake van of an empty goods rake during shunting operations at a coal siding in Latehar district on Friday morning, leaving one railway guard injured but causing no loss of life.
Railway safety officials have begun an inquiry into the incident that occurred around 6 am at Phulbasiya coal siding under Bariyatu police station limits.
Guard Injured, Under Treatment
According to police, the injured guard — identified as Nitish Kumar Dasoundhi, a resident of Dhanbad — sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
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Only the guard-cum-brake van was derailed in the impact. Railway personnel said the front two wheels of the brake van went off the track, while no other wagons derailed.
Sources said the springs of three to four wagons were damaged, but the rest of the rake remained on track. The goods train was empty and was being positioned on line number 7 at the time of the incident.
No Impact on Train Traffic
Officials said the mishap occurred within the siding area and did not affect passenger or mainline freight train movement.
The locomotive, operated under Indian Railways, was reportedly engaged in shunting when it struck the brake van. Preliminary inputs suggest the engine may have been moving faster than the prescribed shunting speed.
Railway sources confirmed that the loco pilot’s blood sample has been collected for alcohol testing as part of standard safety protocol.
Latehar SP Kumar Gaurav said local police reached the site promptly and collected details of the incident.