Jalgaon, Mar 14 (UNI) In a freak accident, the engine of an Express train hit a truck loaded with bags of grains stranded on the railway tracks and crushed it early on Friday, disrupting rail services on the Bhusawal-Nagpur-Howrah route.

Fortunately, a major disaster was averted as the speed of the train was low.

According to sources, no one was injured in the accident that occurred near Bodwad station at around 4.30 am, which disrupted rail services on the route for about six hours.

The railway gate, located about 500 metres away from Bodwad railway station, has been closed for use since construction of a flyover. As the driver of the truck was unaware of this, he drove the goods-laden vehicle at full speed broke through the closed railway gate and got stranded on the railway line.

At that time, the Amravati-bound Amravati Express coing from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai came from the Bodwad railway station, hit the truck and crushed it.

As the speed of the train was very low, the locomotive pilot was able to stop the train immediately.

As the brakes were suddenly applied, many passengers sleeping in the Express train fell off their berths. After the accident, the driver of the truck fled the scene, taking advantage of the darkness.

Officials from the Railways, local police, Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force rushed to the spot and launched an operation to clear the track, sources added.

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