Jharkhand’s Pakur district witnessed a nightmarish rail accident that claimed the lives of a father, mother, and their young daughter. The Vande Bharat Express, hurtling at high speed, mowed down Chandan Sardar, Rinpa Sardar, and little Arpita as they crossed the tracks on foot near Nagarnabi, turning a routine walk home into a fatal disaster.
Tuesday’s tragedy struck close to 8 PM on the busy Pakur-Rampurhat corridor. The family from Rajapada had just left Vikrampur after visiting Chandan’s sister. With no vehicle in sight, they proceeded on foot towards the railway crossing—a path they likely took many times before. But this time, the express train from New Jalpaiguri to Howrah struck with devastating force at poles 47/40-47/38, scattering the victims across the tracks.
Emergency responders from RPF and GRP faced a gruesome recovery operation, as the bodies were badly mutilated. The area, typically quiet, buzzed with shocked onlookers and wailing relatives. Investigations are probing track conditions, train speed, and crossing safety measures, amid questions about why such a high-speed service operates near populated pedestrian zones.
Neighbors recall the Sardars’ warmth: Chandan as a hardworking man, Rinpa a devoted mother, and Arpita a bundle of joy at just three years old. Their sudden demise has sparked local outrage, with demands for immediate installation of gates and signals. As funerals are arranged, this heartbreaking story highlights the perils of inadequate rail infrastructure in India’s heartland. Rail safety experts call for systemic reforms to prevent future losses.