Rayagada: The occupants of an ambulance had a narrow escape when a goods train hit their vehicle near Kanipai while crossing the railway track between Sikarpai and Bhalumaska stations on the Rayagada-Malkangiri via Koraput line on Monday. Fortunately, no one inside the ambulance sustained injuries.
According to reports, the ambulance, belonging to an eye hospital, was carrying eight patients scheduled for eye surgery from the villages of Kanipai, Kanjam Jodi, Jhakudu, Betalang, and Chakrakalang under Kalyansinghpur block’s Sikarpai panchayat. An ASHA worker was also on board.
The vehicle was struck by a freight train near Kanipai while attempting to cross the railway track. The impact caused the train to drag the ambulance nearly 100 meters before the loco pilot applied emergency brakes, bringing it to a halt.
Local residents have raised serious concerns about the safety of the railway crossing, highlighting that this is the third such incident at the same location. Despite repeated written complaints to railway authorities, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and the district administration, no action has been taken to construct an overpass or underpass at the crossing.
