A railway worker died and two others got injured by suspected electrocution while carrying out repairs on overhead electrical wires on rail tracks near Jalpaiguri Road station on Wednesday.

Sources said around 11am, some railway workers assembled at Balapara on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town.

“They put up an aluminium ladder near an overhead wire for repairs. Suddenly, there was a sound and one of the workers was in flames. Two others near him were trembling and shouting for help. All fell on the ground and it was found that one of them was dead,” said Santosh Debnath, an eyewitness.

The deceased has been identified as Nishakar Chand Kumar, 28, a resident of Bihar. Injured duo Avinash Kumar and Anil Singh were rushed to the superspecialty hospital in Jalpaiguri and then to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

Dilip Kumar Singh, the divisional railway manager of Alipurduar division, Northeast Frontier Railway, said:

“They were using a ladder which came in contact with the overhead wire of the other track where there was electricity.” An inquiry has begun.

“A person died and two others are injured in the incident. We are conducting an inquiry.”

Teams from the Kotwali police station of Jalpaiguri, the GRP station of New Maynaguri and RPP personnel of Jalpaiguri Road station visited the spot after the accident.

“We are gathering information about the incident and will also speak with the injured workers after their recovery,” said a police officer.