Patna: A potentially serious train accident was narrowly avoided in Bihar on Saturday evening when the Brahmaputra Mail, travelling from Kamakhya to Delhi, collided with a buffalo near Tal Junction, located between Mokama and Hathidah stations in the Danapur railway division. The impact caused debris from the animal to get stuck in the engine, forcing the train to stop completely. Passengers faced long delays as the train remained at the station for more than three hours while railway workers worked to clear the obstruction.
Deputy Manager of Tal Junction, Roshan Kumar Sinha, explained that the train’s engine malfunctioned due to the collision with the buffalo. “The emergency brakes prevented a bigger accident. There was confusion at the station, and removing the buffalo from the tracks was very difficult,” he said. Other trains, including a Superfast service from Tata to Ara and a goods train, were also stopped at nearby stations, causing disruption in the schedule. Eventually, a replacement engine was attached, and the Brahmaputra Mail departed Tal Junction at 6:58 PM.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Bihar. Earlier, the Champaran Humsafar Express, travelling from Katihar to Delhi, collided with a buffalo in the forest area of Valmiki Tiger Reserve near Madanpur railway crossing. Witnesses reported that the buffalo suddenly came onto the tracks, leaving the train little time to stop. These incidents highlight ongoing safety challenges on rail lines that pass through rural and forested areas where animals frequently cross.
Railway authorities have urged caution in regions known for animal crossings and are considering measures such as better fencing, monitoring, and track surveillance. While quick action by train drivers has so far prevented serious accidents, officials say more steps are needed to ensure the safety of both passengers and animals along Bihar’s railway lines.
