Three persons were killed after a passenger train hit a car near an unmanned level-crossing at Kalyanpur in Nuapada district on Sunday morning. According to reports, an Indica car carrying the ill-fated persons was on its way to Gotama from Kalyanpur when the Bhawanipatna-Raipur Passenger train hit it at around 7.45 am. All the three persons, including the driver, died on the spot.
The train dragged the car to a distance before halting at the spot. The impact of the collision was so severe that the car was split into two pieces. While a portion of the car fell on the field beside the tracks, another portion lay on the tracks with the bodies. The deceased were identified as natives of Gotama village which is nearer to the mishap site at Kalyanpur between Nuapada and Khariar stations.
Tension ran high soon as Gotama villagers rushed to the spot and staged a dharna demanding construction of a level-crossing there. They also warned that they would not allow train services in this route as long as their demands are not met. The villagers alleged the Railways authorities have not paid any heed to their earlier demand for construction of a level-crossing at Kalyanpur.
Following the mishap, some trains halted at Titlagarh and Kantabanjhi railway stations and some others at the Baghbara railway station in the bordering Chhattisgarh, reports said. According to Indian Railways, accidents at unmanned level-crossings accounting for 40 per cent of train accidents and 66 per cent of fatalities.
There are 554 unmanned level-crossings across the State. During the last 10 years, over 60 accidents have occurred killing more than 70 persons, pointed out a senior State Government official.