2 loco pilots dead as NTPC freight trains collide in Jharkhand

On receiving the information, railway authorities and the Barhait police reached the accident site. There were seven people onboard the engine, two of whom died.

NTPC officials identified the deceased as Ambuj Mahato from Bokaro and G S Mal from West Bengal. The injured have been taken to Barhait Sadar Hospital.

The line on which the accident took place connects NTPC’s Kahalgaon super thermal power station in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district to the Farakka power plant in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

Anam Bukhari, corporate communication executive, NTPC, said, “The collision involved one empty train and another loaded with coal. Two loco pilots lost their lives, and four others were injured and are currently hospitalised. Preliminary findings suggest a possible signal error, but it is unclear whether it was mechanical or human. Authorities are prioritising rescue efforts, and a detailed investigation is underway. The deceased were contract workers associated with NTPC through an enterprise, and the railway has no involvement in the matter.”

According to the injured assistant loco pilot (ALP) Jitendra Kumar, the freight trains transport coal from Farakka NTPC to Lalmatia. “The accident happened when one freight train was stationary near Barhait MGR railway station while the other was heading from Lalmatia towards Farakka NTPC on the same track,” said Kumar.

Shantanu Das, AGM of NTPC, said that according to the injured ALP, the controller miscommunicated with him. “Although we are investigating the matter, immediate termination will be issued to the responsible controller. Currently, we have no idea how much loss NTPC has incurred due to the accident,” he said.