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Journalism of Courage
A train carrying thousands of passengers reportedly escaped a tragedy in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. Running above the Chakki River, the train crossed a railway bridge on the Delhi-Jammu route just moments before parts of its retaining wall collapsed due to severe flooding.
According to a post that went viral on Monday, the incident occurred near Dhangu, close to Pathankot.
The chilling incident was captured on camera, igniting concerns over railway infrastructure and passenger safety. In the now-viral video, the train is seen moving slowly across the railway bridge, while the Chakki River rages below. As the train makes its way, a section of the bridge’s foundation near the riverbank suddenly breaks and is swept away by the strong currents. Moments later, another portion of the base crumbles into the river.
Reports stated that no injuries or derailments were reported, and the train managed to cross the bridge safely.
Sharing the video, an X user, Nikhil Saini, wrote, “A major tragedy was narrowly avoided in Dhangu, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, as a train with hundreds of passengers onboard crossed the Chakki River bridge just moments before its foundation gave way due to heavy flooding. Locals have long been complaining that illegal mining has weakened the riverbed and nearby structures.”
Watch here:
The video accumulated an array of reactions, with users demanding accountability. “Crusher industry and unchecked mining has made a Grand Canyon out of chakki, it’s effectively Pathankot though it’s in Himachal,” a user wrote. “That’s nothing short of criminal negligence. Imagine a bridge collapsing while a train is crossing it a complete massacre of innocent passengers, caused by the apathy of bureaucrats. Whoever is responsible, jail would be too mild a punishment,” another user commented.
“This Bridge has a history of destruction and corruption,” a third user reacted.
