A tragic accident occurred on the Delhi-Howrah rail route near Prayagraj where five people lost their lives on Wednesday evening, April 15, 2026. The incident took place within the Karchana-Bheerpur section when passengers who had alighted from the halted Kalka Express were struck by the oncoming Purushottam Express on the adjacent track. Railway authorities and local police teams reached the spot to initiate relief operations and clear the tracks for traffic.
📰: Rajasthan Rail Update: Luni-Marwar 70 km doubling project sent for approval at ₹823 crore।
How did the accident occur at Pachdeora halt?
According to official reports from the North Central Railway, the Kalka Express (Netaji Express) made an unscheduled stop after the loco pilot spotted a body on the tracks. During this halt, several passengers disembarked from the train out of curiosity and ventured onto the tracks. The Purushottam Express, which was passing on the neighboring line at that time, struck the passengers who were standing in its path. Railway PRO Amit Malviya confirmed that while one person was hit by the Kalka Express initially, the other four were fatally struck by the Purushottam Express.
Which trains were affected and what is the current status?
The accident caused significant disruptions on the busy Delhi-Howrah section for several hours before operations were restored. Several major trains were halted at various stations to allow the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to conduct their investigation and recover the bodies. The following trains experienced notable delays:
- Mahananda Express: Delayed for several hours at a nearby station.
- Mahabodhi Express: Held up during the emergency investigation and track clearance process.
- Brahmaputra Mail: Faced scheduling disruptions due to the emergency halt on the main line.
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar has communicated with senior officials and requested a comprehensive report on the incident. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed condolences and instructed officials to expedite relief efforts. Authorities have issued an appeal to all passengers to avoid disembarking from trains during unscheduled halts and to stay away from railway tracks for their own safety.