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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Annamalai left out of BJP’s candidate list for Tamil Nadu polls, party cites High Command decision
Chennai/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, triggering political discussion after the absence of former state president K Annamalai from the roster.
Despite being widely seen as the party’s most prominent face in the state and a key figure in its southern expansion strategy, Annamalai was not fielded in the list. Senior leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union Minister L. Murugan from Avinashi, have been nominated.
Responding to questions on the omission, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership. He expressed confidence that all 27 candidates would emerge victorious in the polls.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020 and rapidly rose to prominence, had earlier been replaced as state chief by Nagendran. Known for his aggressive political style and grassroots outreach, he has been instrumental in amplifying the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu, a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.
In a message posted on X, Annamalai congratulated the candidates and reaffirmed his commitment to the party. He said he would campaign actively for BJP and NDA nominees, expressing confidence in the alliance securing a decisive mandate. He also criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, calling it ineffective and self-serving.
The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Seat-sharing arrangements allocate 169 constituencies to the AIADMK, 27 to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, 11 to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, five to the Tamil Maanila Congress, and one seat each to the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi and Puratchi Bharatham.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The primary contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, although actor-turned-politician Vijay is also positioning himself as a potential challenger, raising the possibility of a multi-cornered contest.
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran says, "A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2026
On Annamalai's name not appearing in the recently released list, he says, "This is a… https://t.co/pDd0HodSAW pic.twitter.com/29gkGK9AaP
