Purnia: A shocking accident took place in Bihar on Friday morning when the Vande Bharat Express train hit a group of teenagers who were returning from a Dussehra fair. The incident happened at around 5am near the Kasba Yawanpur railway crossing on the Katihar–Jogbani line in Purnia district. According to police and railway officials, four boys were killed on the spot while one more was left critically injured. The injured boy was immediately taken to the Medical College Hospital in Purnia, where doctors said his condition is very serious.
The teenagers had travelled from their village, Chandpur Bhangaha in Banmankhi block, to Kasba to watch the Dussehra celebrations. All of them worked in a local makhana factory in Purnia and had gone together to enjoy the festival. Officials said that they were walking along the railway track to return home when the high-speed Vande Bharat Express, which was coming from Jogbani towards Patna, struck them. A mobile phone belonging to one of the boys was also found at the accident site.
Police from Kasba station, along with Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials, rushed to the scene after receiving information. They confirmed the identities of the deceased and informed their families. The bodies have been sent for postmortem before being handed over to the grieving relatives. Local residents expressed deep sorrow over the accident, saying that the boys were only trying to enjoy the festival and never expected such a tragedy on their way back.
The accident has cast a shadow of mourning over the entire area. Villagers gathered near the railway crossing, demanding better safety measures and warning systems on the route, especially during festive seasons when many people walk home late at night or early in the morning. Authorities have said an inquiry will be carried out into the incident, but for now, families and neighbours are struggling to cope with the sudden loss of young lives.
