Ernakulam-Howrah Antodaya Express hits JCB machine in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Ernakulam-Howrah Antodaya Express hit a JCB machine while passing a manned level crossing near Haridaspur station in Odisha’s Jajpur district on Wednesday.

No passenger was injured in the incident. However, services on the line were disrupted for a couple of hours, said an East Coast Railway (ECoR) official.

Divisional Railway Manager Khurda road suspended gate-man for dereliction of duty and ordered disciplinary proceedings.

The excavator machine was abandoned on the railway tracks by its driver after it developed snags near the level crossing, between Haridaspur and New Garhmadhupur stations,  said the official.

The pantograph of the Howrah-bound train along with the overhead wire and masts were damaged in the collision, he said.