Jehanabad district witnessed heartbreak on Saturday when two separate rail accidents on the busy Patna-Gaya line resulted in two fatalities. One victim was identified as a local resident fleeing a snake, while the other remains unnamed, heightening the urgency of investigations.
Dilip Kumar Sharma, a 50-year-old from Gaya’s Shahbazpur, was building a home near Jehanabad Court Halt alongside his family in Shanti Niwas. Chaos erupted during site digging when a snake slithered into view. Terrified, Sharma dashed across the tracks, straight into the path of an oncoming MEMU train.
The impact was devastating: his hand was amputated, and severe cranial trauma led to instant death. Police from Sadar station cordoned the area, launched a probe, and arranged for autopsy. Mourners soon flooded the hospital, their sorrow palpable amid chants and tears.
Tragedy struck again near Makhdumpur station, where a 30-ish man in a light blue shirt and navy pants was struck by a train. GRP officer Deep Narayan Yadav announced plans to hold the body for three days after post-mortem, with social media appeals for kin to come forward.
These back-to-back incidents spotlight vulnerabilities on this vital corridor. Officials vow detailed scrutiny, from trackside encroachments to pedestrian awareness, as communities demand enhanced safety measures to avert such losses.