The collision derailed the engine and five bogies of the passenger train leaving 50 passengers injured, the sources said.
Three persons were killed and over 50 injured when a passenger train derailed after hitting an earth-cutting vehicle at an unmanned railway crossing in Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district today.
The driver of the earth-cutting vehicle and two other persons were killed when their vehicle stranded at the level crossing at Gossainghati between Azara and Mirza was hit by the Bongaigaon-Guwahati Chilarai Passenger passenger train at 9:30am, railway sources said.
The collision derailed the engine and five bogies of the passenger train leaving 50 passengers injured, the sources said.
The injured passengers were rushed by local people to the Mirza Public Health Centre from where the critically injured were referred to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital and MMC Civil Hospital in Guwahati, police sources said.
Two of the dead on the earth cutting vehicle were identified as Bipul Rabha and Saloi.
The wheels of some of the derailed coaches broke and a portion of the railway tracks was damaged in the accident, the sources added.
Personnel of the Disaster Management Authority swung into action for rescue and relief operations with railway rescue vans and high officials rushing to the spot.
The earth cutting vehicle was hurled about 100 feet away under the impact of the collision killing its driver and helper on the spot, railway sources said.
Rangia Division railway sources said that the vehicle's driver had violated the Motor Vehicles Act at the unmanned level crossing which led to his death and that of his helper.
The tracks would be repaired and the movement of trains restored by 11:00 PM, they said.
The railway help lines were 0361-2331621 and 0361-2331622.
Agriculture Minister Nilomoni Sen Deka told reporters at the accident site that the state government had been asking the Railway ministry to put up a manned gate at the railway crossing used by villagers, for the last two years.
Sen said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would write to the railway ministry for converting the gate into a manned one.
Meanwhile, an altercation broke out after the Railway Police Force directed the local people rescuing the passengers of the train to move away.
District superintendent of police Parthajyoti Mahanta told reporters that the help of the local people was highly appreciated.
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