Railway worker killed in suspected Maoist landmine blast in Odisha

A railway maintenance worker was killed and another critically injured in a suspected Maoist-triggered landmine blast in Odisha's Sundargarh district on Saturday morning. The incident has triggered panic among residents and severely disrupted train operations in the region.

The explosion occurred around 10 am near Rengada while railway staff were carrying out track maintenance work. The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Etawa Oram, a resident of Bisara village. Another worker, Budharam Munda, sustained serious injuries and was immediately shifted to Rourkela General Hospital for treatment.

Personnel from the K Balanga police station arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion and launched an investigation. Initial assessments suggest the blast may have been orchestrated by Maoist insurgents, who have a history of targeting infrastructure to instill fear and assert control in the region.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased. "This is a tragic loss. We stand with the family of Etawa Oram in this difficult time," the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Train services on the affected route have been suspended temporarily, leading to disruptions and inconvenience for commuters.

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