2 dead, 6 injured in major train collision on Farakka-Lalmatia rail line

A tragic train collision occurred early this morning on the Farakka NTPC-Lalmatia MG rail line near Barhat in Sahibganj district. The incident took place around 4 AM when a freight train, traveling from Farakka NTPC, was stationary on the loop line. A coal-laden through-pass freight train heading towards Lalmatia was mistakenly directed to the same loop line instead of the main track by the controller. The resulting crash between the two trains left two railway workers dead and six others injured.

The victims have been identified as one railway worker from Bokaro, Jharkhand, and another from West Bengal. The six injured workers were immediately given first aid at Barhat center and later transferred to a higher medical facility for advanced treatment. The injuries of the workers are reported to be serious but not life-threatening.

In the aftermath of the collision, officials from the Central Industrial Security Force (CIF) arrived at the scene to begin their investigation. The cause of the signaling error is under scrutiny, and authorities are focusing on the technical failures that led to the accident. Local authorities are also working to restore normal rail operations, with trains expected to be diverted temporarily.