Agartala, November 20: In a tragic incident, three persons were killed on the spot when a Bolero pickup van collided with the Agartala–Silchar passenger train at Manu Ghat SK Para in Tripura’s Dhalai district on Thursday.
Preliminary reports suggest that the speeding Bolero attempted to cross the railway track in haste when it was hit by the oncoming train. The impact was so severe that the vehicle was left completely mangled. Three occupants of the van died instantly, while another person is believed to have narrowly escaped death by jumping out of the vehicle moments before the collision.
Soon after receiving information, police and fire service personnel rushed to the site of the accident. The bodies of the deceased were recovered from the wreckage and shifted to Manu Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Police, railway officials, and local administration are jointly assessing the circumstances that led to the accident. Efforts are underway to ascertain the identity of the victims, whose names and addresses had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, with residents expressing deep anguish over the loss of lives. The tragedy has also reignited concerns over safety arrangements at level crossings in the area. Locals have demanded stricter enforcement of traffic rules, better signage, and robust safety measures, particularly at unmanned or poorly guarded crossings, to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and consider additional safeguards to enhance commuter and vehicular safety along the Agartala–Silchar railway route.
