Saharsa: A locomotive pilot was injured after unidentified miscreants hurled stones at a moving passenger train on the Saharsa–Purnia railway section in Bihar, shattering the engine’s windshield and forcing the train to halt for nearly an hour.
The incident occurred when the 75262 Saharsa–Purnia DEMU passenger train departed Saharsa station at around 2:05am on Tuesday. According to railway sources, the train was approaching Polytechnic Railway Dhala Gate No. 104 at approximately 2:20am when unknown individuals allegedly took advantage of the darkness and began pelting stones at the engine.
One large stone struck the front windshield of the locomotive, smashing the glass and sending shards flying inside the cabin. The fragments reportedly struck the loco pilot, identified as Pradeep Kumar, on the head, leaving him seriously injured and bleeding.
Railway officials said the train was immediately brought to a halt at Karu Khirhari railway halt after the incident. The train remained stationary for nearly an hour while the injured driver was attended to.
Passengers onboard reported that stones were also thrown at some of the coaches, although no passengers were injured in the attack. Panic briefly spread among travellers as news of the injured driver circulated through the train.
The injured loco pilot was taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment. Sources said he received first aid and was later discharged, though the head injury was described as serious.
Following the incident, authorities at the Samastipur control room alerted the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Security personnel reached the location and launched a search operation in the Polytechnic Dhala area.
Officials said patrols in the region have been increased while an investigation is underway to identify those responsible. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting.
