Close shave for 2 trains, man alerts about damaged track

An alert citizen saved hundreds of lives after he detected damage to rail tracks near Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri district on Saturday and informed the authorities shortly before two long distance trains were to pass the stretch.

A North-East Frontier Railway (NFR) official said Gagan Roy informed the railway control room after discovering the six-inch crack on single line track at around 8:30 AM. The approaching Teesta Torsha Express, which was running late, and North Bengal Express were immediately halted some distance away from the spot.

A railway team then went to the site and repaired the gap. Both trains were to pass the track.

Train movement, which was stopped at 9 AM, finally resumed at around 10:10 AM, the official said.

Roy, who was praised by railway officials and villagers in his neighbourhood, said he did just what could be expected from any person in such situation.