Purnia: A major rail accident was narrowly avoided at Ranipatra railway station in Purnia due to the quick thinking of the driver of the DMU train (07561). The train had just left the station when an iron rod became lodged in its wheels, causing a loud noise and a jolt. The driver immediately applied the emergency brakes, preventing the train from derailing.
The incident occurred when the train, packed with passengers, had traveled only 900 meters from the station. The driver explained that the slow speed of the train at the time of the accident was crucial in preventing a larger disaster. He noted that had the train been moving faster, a major accident could have occurred.
After bringing the train to a halt, the driver inspected the wheels and found the iron rod stuck so firmly that it took more than five minutes to remove it. The passengers, shaken by the jolt, expressed their relief at the driver’s swift response in avoiding what could have been a catastrophic accident.
Jitendra, a passenger from Purnia who was on the train, said that the emergency brake was applied just in time, potentially preventing the train from derailing. He, like many other passengers, acknowledged the crucial role of the driver’s presence of mind in averting a disaster.
Railway authorities, along with RPF jawans, arrived at the scene to investigate the cause of the incident. Officials suspect that an anti-social element may have deliberately placed the iron rod on the track or that it was accidentally dropped by a thief. Several suspects have been detained for questioning.
This incident is one of several recent attempts to derail trains across the country. In Madhya Pradesh, detonators were placed on the tracks to target an army train, while in Kanpur, a fifth conspiracy to derail a train in 38 days involved placing a gas cylinder on the tracks. Similar incidents have occurred in Bathinda and Muzaffarpur, highlighting the increasing frequency of these acts.
In response to these threats, the Railway Board is considering measures such as installing cameras at sensitive locations and on railway engines to provide real-time monitoring and enable drivers to react quickly in case of obstructions on the tracks.
