Amravati Express train hits truck in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district; no injuries
Mumbai, Mar 14 (PTI): A speeding truck crashed into a level-crossing gate, got stuck on the railway tracks and was hit by an express train in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Friday morning, an official said.
No one was injured in the accident near Bodwad station around 4.30 am, which disrupted rail services on the route for about 6 hours, the official said.
He said the 12111 Amravati Express from Mumbai to Amravati was about to pass through the area when the truck driver lost control over the wheel and rammed the vehicle into a level-crossing gate.
The truck broke the barrier at the rail-road intersection and got stuck on the tracks. The driver alighted and was seeking help when the train hit the vehicle, the official said.
He said the alert loco pilot had spotted the truck on the tracks and slowed down, averting a much bigger accident.
The Central Railway's chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila said the truck had unauthorisedly crossed the track near Bodwad railway station in the Bhusawal division.
He said there were no injuries to the truck driver, cleaner, the railway staff and passengers.
The official said the accident disrupted the traffic, but the movement of trains has now been restored.
Officials from the railways, local police, Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force rushed to the spot and launched an operation to clear the track.
According to officials, the truck got stuck to the train engine, which blocked rail traffic on the stretch for a few hours, and a gas cutter and earthmover were engaged to remove the truck from the tracks.
The track was cleared around 10.20 am, and the train left for the next station. A case is being registered, and a probe is underway, they said.
12111 Mumbai CSMT-Amravati SF Express reportedly hit a truck near Bodwad after Bhusawal at 4:30 AM today, stranding passengers for hours! #IndianRailways pic.twitter.com/uOJs3Axa3P
— Trains of India (@trainwalebhaiya) March 14, 2025
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
