Dumper falls on railway tracks, driver injured

A loaded dumper broke through the railing of an overbridge, and plunged nearly 25 feet onto the railway track near Burhwal junction, leaving the driver seriously injured and disrupting train movement in the area, officials said on Thursday.

The impact of the fall on Wednesday night snapped overhead electric wires on the rail tracks, causing the Amritsar-“Saharsa Garib Rath Express to halt abruptly.

Passengers reported hearing a loud explosion, prompting the loco pilot to apply emergency brakes.

Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya said no train passenger was injured.

“The dumper, loaded with plywood, fell onto the tracks. The driver was seriously injured and has been admitted to the hospital,” he said.

The dumper driver was rescued after cutting open the cabin and was rushed to the district hospital, where his condition remains critical.

Railway officials and local police reached the spot shortly after receiving the alert.