Train hits two trucks, one dead in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW - A train rammed into two trucks in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district Saturday, killing a man and leaving two people injured, after its driver “failed to notice” the red signal at a level crossing, officials said.

The accident took place at the level crossing gate No. 26 B of the Babura railway crossing, where the Amritsar-Sealdah Akaltakth Express rammed into the two trucks.

“The driver of one of the trucks died on the spot. Two others, including the driver of the second truck, have received critical injuries. The two are being treated at a hospital,” Government Railway Police (GRP) inspector Indra Dev told reporters in Jaunpur, some 250 km from Lucknow.

“No passengers were injured in the collision,” he said.

Railway officials have recommended action against the driver of the train and he is likely to be suspended, officials said.

Railway authorities have also constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter.

“It appears that the driver failed to notice the signal, probably due to fog. However, he was supposed to run the train in a controlled way at a railway crossing under such circumstances. His (driver) fault cannot be ignored. Action has already been recommended against him,” a senior railway official told IANS.

The train was heading to Sealdah in West Bengal from Amritsar in Punjab.