One person was killed and six others were injured after a freight train collided with a pickup van at an unmanned railway crossing in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district late on Thursday, October 22. The accident occurred near Sanjay Nagar in the Chachai police station area, close to the Amarkantak Thermal Power Station. The collision was severe, leaving the vehicle badly damaged and trapping occupants inside. The injured were taken to the district hospital for treatment, while local authorities reached the scene to assess the situation.

According to preliminary reports, the seven occupants of the pickup van were returning to their village after delivering DJ equipment in the Sanjay Nagar area. The vehicle was crossing the railway line when it was struck by a locomotive travelling towards the Bangwar-Sangma siding to collect coal. The impact proved fatal for a 25-year-old man identified as Ravi Verma, a resident of Chakaithi village. Six other occupants sustained injuries, with some reportedly suffering serious wounds.

The accident has raised concerns about safety arrangements at the railway crossing, where no gate was reportedly installed. Residents said the railway line passes through an inhabited area where people regularly cross to reach nearby homes and workplaces. They also raised concerns about inadequate lighting and the absence of a gatekeeper, arguing that these conditions increase the risk of accidents, particularly at night. The circumstances surrounding the collision, including visibility and the locomotive’s warning signals, are expected to be examined.

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Following the accident, residents and the victim’s relatives demanded compensation for the bereaved family and better safety measures at the crossing. They also sought employment for one of the deceased man’s brothers at the power station. The demands led to discussions with local officials and representatives of the power plant management. Authorities and management representatives reportedly assured residents that the injured would receive better medical care, compensation would be considered under applicable provisions, and a gate would be installed at the crossing.

The incident has renewed questions about the maintenance and monitoring of railway crossings used for industrial transportation. Residents also alleged that a previous accident had occurred at the same location about a year earlier, when a train struck a car, although no fatalities were reported at that time. They claimed that their earlier demands for safety improvements had not resulted in adequate measures. Further scrutiny of the crossing’s safety arrangements and the circumstances of the latest collision will be important to prevent similar accidents in the future.

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