Passenger train collides with truck in Maharashtra, services disrupted

A collision occurred early Friday morning when the Mumbai-Amravati Express crashed into a truck at a closed railway crossing near Bodwad Railway Station in Maharashtra. The truck, which was carrying wheat, was attempting to cross the tracks through an unauthorized route when it was struck by the train at around 4:30 am. No injuries were reported among passengers, railway staff, or the truck driver.

According to railway officials, the level crossing had been shut and replaced by a railway overbridge, but the truck driver broke through the old barrier and ended up on the tracks. "The level-crossing has been long closed and was replaced by a Railway over Bridge. The truck still broke into the old level crossing stopper to land on the track," a senior railway official said. The impact split the truck in two, with its front portion getting entangled with the train’s engine. However, the train’s engine was not damaged.

The crash resulted in damage to railway infrastructure, including overhead electric wires, affecting train services on the Mumbai-Kolkata route. The Mumbai-Amravati Amba Express and several other trains experienced delays of up to 90 minutes. Railway authorities began repair work immediately, restoring normal operations by 8:50 am.

Officials confirmed that the locomotive pilot was unharmed and that the truck driver and cleaner also escaped without injuries. "The impact did damage the truck but not the engine of the train," an official stated. The railway authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the accident and may take legal action against the truck driver for unauthorized track crossing.

This incident follows a previous railway accident near Jalgaon in January 2025, where 13 people lost their lives in a collision involving the Pushpak Express. Authorities have urged stricter enforcement of railway safety regulations to prevent further incidents involving unauthorized crossings.