A tragic accident occurred at Bihar’s Barauni Junction station on Saturday, where a 25-year-old railway employee, Amar Kumar, was crushed between the engine and a coach during a shunting operation, as reported by PTI.
Kumar, a Samastipur resident, lost his life while the Lucknow Junction to Barauni Express was being maneuvered at platform number 5. A video of the incident quickly spread across social media, sparking shock and concern. The buffer, a shock-absorbing mechanism on both ends of the train’s engine and coaches, could not prevent the fatal impact during the operation.
Following the incident, Kumar’s family alleged negligence by the railway staff. They opposed the post-mortem until responsible personnel were identified. Vivek Bhushan Sood, Divisional Railway Manager of the Sonpur division, arrived to pacify the family.
According to Sharswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway, a possible violation of operational protocols may have contributed to Kumar’s death. “It is a very unfortunate incident, and the operational guidelines appear to have been breached,” Chandra stated, adding that a high-level inquiry is underway.
The incident also drew political attention, with Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate posting on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the accountability of railway authorities: “This shocking incident from Barauni in Bihar raises questions. Who is responsible for this negligence?”
The inquiry aims to uncover the specifics of any operational lapses, with the railway administration promising strict action against any employee found responsible.