Keonjhar: The driver of a dumper miraculously survived after the heavy vehicle fell into a 50-ft gorge to land on railway tracks in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Monday.
According to sources, the mishap occurred at Gurubeda Chowk near Joda town of the district, when the driver lost control on the wheel and the dumper slipped into 50 feet deep gorge jumping over 20 KV power cables. It then rolled over to the railway tracks nearby.
On being informed by locals, Fire Brigade team and Joda police rushed to the spot. Initially, the driver was presumed to be dead. After some time when he cried for help, the Fire services personnel started the rescue operation.
The dumper driver, identified as Sanjay Yadav of Jharkhand, was rescued from the damaged vehicle him after an hour by cutting a portion of the damaged vehicle with gas cutters. He was rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Joda.
Hospital sources said Sanjay sustained multiple injuries and both his legs were broken. But he was responding well to the treatment and his health condition was stable.
The movement of trains on Banspani-Jaroli route was affected for more than two hours. However, the dumper was removed with help of a crane from the railway tracks and train services resumed on the route.
Joda police have initiated an investigation into the incident and questioned a few eyewitnesses who saw the truck falling into the gorge.
