Sitamarhi: A potentially catastrophic accident was narrowly avoided in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district after an autorickshaw was driven onto an active railway track while a high-speed express train passed on an adjacent line.
The incident occurred near Mehsaul Gumti on the Sitamarhi–Darbhanga railway section, where locals were left stunned as they saw the autorickshaw stuck on the tracks. According to eyewitnesses, the driver—later identified as Pintu Kumar of Parihar, Sitamarhi—appeared disoriented as he manoeuvred the vehicle along the railway line.
Quick-thinking bystanders rushed to the scene, shouting warnings and attempting to get the driver to safety. They managed to haul the autorickshaw off the tracks moments before a train passed by, preventing what could have been a deadly collision. Fortunately, no train was running on the line the vehicle was obstructing.
Footage of the incident has gone viral on social media, capturing the tense moments as people tried to avert disaster. The sound of an approaching train’s horn can be heard in the background while concerned locals confront the driver.
Pintu Kumar has been taken into custody by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the vehicle has been seized. While there have been allegations from locals that the driver was intoxicated, authorities have not confirmed this.
“Pintu Kumar has been arrested and sent to jail. The auto has been seized. Alcohol use has not been confirmed during the investigation,” said RPF station in-charge Om Prakash.
The incident also reignites concerns over Bihar’s ongoing struggle with illicit alcohol, despite the state-wide prohibition enacted on April 1,2016. Smuggling from neighbouring states—Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and across the border in Nepal—remains rampant. In recent years, multiple deaths linked to poisonous liquor have occurred in districts such as Siwan, Chapra, and Muzaffarpur, calling into question the enforcement and effectiveness of the alcohol ban.
