A speeding truck broke through a closed level-crossing gate and got stuck on the railway tracks before being hit by the Amaravati Express near Bodwad railway station in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Friday, March 14, 2025. According to an official, the alert loco pilot spotted the truck on the tracks and slowed down the train, preventing a potentially much bigger accident.

"No one was injured in the accident, which occurred near Bodwad station around 4:45 am, disrupting rail services on the route for about six hours," said an official.

The truck driver, identified as Poovarasu A, son of Adhimulam, a resident of MGR Nagar, Kambainallur Post, Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, has been detained by Bodwad Police.

During preliminary investigations, Poovarasu revealed that the truck's brakes had suddenly failed, causing him to lose control while driving downhill. Further investigation is ongoing.

"Just as the 12111 Amaravati Express from Mumbai to Amravati was about to pass through the area, the truck driver lost control and crashed into the level-crossing gate. The vehicle broke through the barrier at the rail-road intersection and got stuck on the tracks. The driver exited the truck and was seeking help when the train struck the vehicle," an official stated.

After receiving information, railway officials, local police, Government Railway Police (GRP), and Railway Protection Force (RPF) teams rushed to the scene and launched an operation to clear the tracks.

"The truck had become entangled with the train engine, blocking rail traffic for a few hours. A gas cutter and an earthmover were used to remove the wreckage. The tracks were cleared by 10:20 am, and the train resumed its journey," an official added.

Impact and Restoration Efforts

Initial reports suggest that the truck, carrying wheat from Muktai Nagar, was moving at high speed when it crossed the DN-side speed breaker, leaving skid marks on the road.

According to an official, the truck got stuck at a sleeper stack, where traces of tire powder were observed on a layer of 18 concrete sleepers. It then jumped over the first sleeper stack, damaging a second layer of eight sleepers. Continuing its momentum, the truck broke through the tie-bar fencing, crossed the horizontal rail fencing, and collided with the train.

Timeline of the Incident

• 4:45 am: Railway control was informed, and officials rushed to the site to begin restoration work. The state bus department was contacted to arrange transport for stranded passengers.

• 7:30 am: Two buses carrying 200 passengers with short-distance destinations departed the site.

• 8:00 am: Five more buses transported 500 passengers to Shegaon, Akola, and Amravati.

• Meanwhile: Tea, biscuits, and drinking water were distributed at Bhusawal and Akola stations to stranded passengers.

• The OHE (Overhead Equipment) of the down line was damaged, and the crossover wire was hanging, obstructing the UP line. As a result, traffic on both lines was halted. Diesel locomotives were sent from Bhusawal and Malkapur stations.

• 8:10 am: The crossover OHE was removed, and the UP line was declared fit.

• A diesel locomotive was attached to the Amaravati Express from the Bhusawal end and pulled back to clear the path for a crane. The wreckage of the truck had to be cut into three parts due to heavy entanglement.

• As the CBC (Centre Buffer Coupler) of the working locomotive was damaged, the locomotive was detached, and the load was transferred to the down loop line.

• 9:05 am: The DOWN line was declared fit.

• 9:23 am: The down loop line was also restored.

• 10:13 am: After attaching a diesel locomotive, the Amaravati Express departed from the site.