Locals report crack on railway track, save hundreds of lives

A Kamakhya-Sealdah summer special train escaped a major accident after some local people found a crack on the railway tracks between Adina and Eklakhi stations in Malda district under Northeast Frontier Railway zone.

The incident occurred at around 7.30 am on Saturday after the train arrived at the Malda Town station. The local people spotted a crack on the railway track over which the train was scheduled to pass in a few minutes.

They informed the matter to the railway staff, who immediately inspected the spot. The train was halted at Malda Town station for nearly 90 minutes. Railway engineers and senior officials also rushed to the spot and a repair work was initiated on a war footing.

A senior official of the Northeast Frontier railways said that the track was slightly displaced, resulting in the development of a crack.

Train services was resumed on the track within an hour and a half. The official, however, ruled out the possibility of sabotage. The incident triggered tension among the local residents, who took prompt action and informed the matter to the railway authorities, saving the lives of hundreds of passengers.

As a result of this incident, various long distance trains were stranded in many stations, causing inconvenience to the passengers.

According to the senior railway official, services were disrupted for more than an hour which resumed soon after the crack was repaired. The

trains which were stranded at different stations also started for their destinations once again.