Balasore, Sept 29: While the Balasore triple train tragedy at Bahanaga Station is yet alive in people’s mind, two Superfast Express Trains approached each other on the same track once again in Odisha.
Though a great head-on collision was averted due to presence of mind of a loco-pilot and his guard, the incident proved the laxity of the concerned officials in their operational protocols.
The corcerning incident took place on Sunday evening when the Howrah–Bhubaneswar Jan Shatabdi Express was stopped in time after some ‘signal conflict’ while the Jan Shatabdi Express was coming on the same route from opposite direction.
Thank god, the alert pilot slowed down the coach anticipating something wrong. He helped prevent a sureshot mishap i.e a head-on collision with the Shatabdi Express that was operating on the Howrah–Puri route.
According to reports, the Howrah–Bhubaneswar Jan Shatabdi Express arrived at Soro station at 5.36 pm and was scheduled to depart at 5.46 pm. On the other hand, the Howrah–Puri Shatabdi Express was approaching the same station as its designated line was not clear. Thus, the two superfast Express trains almot came face-to-face, creating panic for the passengers onboard.
Despite the caution, the train advanced beyond the station perimeter, leading to an alleged signal conflict, and the trains almost came face-to-face.
On being jumbled up, the signal operators on duty, flagged the signal red to the Jan Shatabdi Express all of a sudden.
To address the unforeseen situation and avert crash, the Howrah–Bhubaneswar Jan Shatabdi was suddenly stopped at Soro, while the Howrah–Puri Shatabdi was held at the Markona station.
Following the incident, senior railway officials rushed to Markona station to review the situation and initiate an investigation into lapses in operational protocol that led the two trains run on the same tract at same time.
Subsequently, the locomotive pilot, assistant pilot, and guard of the Shatabdi Express were detained at the stop and asked to face an inquiry for the annoying situation.
Further investigation is underway.The East Coast Railway authorities have not yet released any statement on the harrowing incident.
Tags: prameyanews accident
