Dumper falls on railway tracks in UP's Barabanki; train services disrupted
Barabanki (UP) (PTI): A loaded dumper broke through the railing of an overbridge, and plunged nearly 25 feet onto the railway track near Burhwal junction, leaving the driver seriously injured and disrupting train movement in the area, officials said on Thursday.
The impact of the fall on Wednesday night snapped overhead electric wires on the rail tracks, causing the Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express to halt abruptly.
Passengers reported hearing a loud explosion, prompting the loco pilot to apply emergency brakes.
Superintendent of Police Arpit Vijayvargiya said no train passenger was injured.
"The dumper, loaded with plywood, fell onto the tracks. The driver was seriously injured and has been admitted to the hospital," he said.
The dumper driver was rescued after cutting open the cabin and was rushed to the district hospital, where his condition remains critical.
Railway officials and local police reached the spot shortly after receiving the alert.
It took nearly two hours to clear the debris and remove the dumper from the tracks, during which several trains were halted at nearby stations. The Garib Rath Express was stranded for about two hours, rail officials said.
Burhwal Junction Railway Protection Force in-charge Ravi Kumar said the train movement resumed only after the damaged wires were repaired and the track was cleared.
Rail services gradually returned to normal after the two-hour disruption.
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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
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New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
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