Bhubaneswar:
Two goods trains collided in Orissa's Keonjhar district early today killing one of the drivers while four others are still trapped in the wreckage.
The mishap took place near the Tangiripala station between Keonjhar and Banspani when an iron ore-laden train proceeding from the Keonjhar district rammed into an empty goods train approaching from opposite direction, railway officials said.
While the body of the driver of one of the trains has been recovered, the fate of four others is still unknown as they are trapped in the wreckage and rescue operation is on in full swing, a senior East Coast Railway (ECoR) official said.
There were five persons including drivers and assistant drivers in both the trains, he said, adding engines of the trains were badly damaged and gas cutters and other equipments were being used to extricate those trapped. Earlier, railway sources had said that one person was killed and four others were seriously injured in the mishap. "Rescue and search operation is in progress and it is difficult to ascertain the fate of those trapped," ECoR sources said.
Senior railway officials including Sanjay Garg, divisional railway manager (Khurda division), have rushed to the spot to supervise rescue and service restoration work. Following the mishap, Inter-City express trains between Puri and Banspani have been cancelled, the sources said, adding there was little impact on rail traffic as the route is mostly used for goods trains to carry minerals. Efforts were on to ascertain the circumstances that led to the mishap, they said.