An army man was electrocuted and his four colleagues suffered injuries when they came in contact with an overhead high-tension live wire while checking a water tanker on an open wagon of a stationary train at New Jalpaiguri station on Thursday.

The special train carrying army personnel was on the way from Binnaguri in the Jalpaiguri district to the Shri Bhadriya Lathi station in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.

The accident happened when the train reached NJP on Thursday morning and was waiting for the signal.

“When the train stopped, some army men entered an open wagon that was carrying a water tanker to check whether it needed to be refilled. One of them who climbed onto the top of the tank accidentally came in contact with an overhead live wire and died on the spot. Four other army personnel were also injured in the electric shock,” said a source.

The deceased army man was Meheta Manish, 34. The injured are Surender Kumar, Chatur Prasant, M.K. Kushwah and Satgir.

“The injured army personnel were taken to the railway hospital and later, shifted to the army hospital at Bengdubi. The train was carrying a company of the 1812 Rocket Regiment,” said a source in the army.

Railway and army officials arrived at the spot of the accident. Sources in the Northeast Frontier Railway said a probe had started. The train later left for the destination.

3 hurt in blast

Three boys suffered serious burns when crude bombs exploded at a village in North Dinajpur district on Thursday. All of them are under treatment at Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital.

Sources said the trio were collecting firewood in a bamboo plantation at Patnor-Belbari near Dalkhola when the crude bombs went off. The bombs were apparently concealed in the bamboo grove.

The boys are Rabi Rishi, Bikash Rishi and Sonu Rishi.