Major train accident in Balasore averted, alert MEMU train pilot saves lives
By Sudam Patra
Balasore, July 19: A major train mishap was on Tuesday averted when a MEMU train managed a narrow escape near Baruna Singh chhak at Nilgiri Road railway station in Odisha’s Balasore district.
As per initial reports, the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train entered a loop line track where some work was going on. A tragedy was reportedly averted only due to the presence of the loco pilot who sensed something wrong and applied brakes. The MEMU train was on its way to Balasore from Bhadrak when the loco pilot applied brakes after noticing some mistake in the track endpoint.
Reportedly, the loco pilot then reversed the train towards Balasore, affecting the movement of other trains on the route for some time.
Bijaydhar Barik, a passenger said, “It was only the train driver who spotted something wrong in the tracks. The train later reversed some 200 to 300 meters and we got down from the train. The train was moving at slow speed and stopped at a distance from the track which had some issues.”
Though a tragedy was averted, it has created fears in the minds of passengers travelling in the train.
On June 2, a major train tragedy in Balasore sent shockwaves across the globe. As many as 293 passengers died and over 900 were injured in the train accident involving Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train laden with iron.
According to loco pilot of the MEMU train, Prashant Panda, The train was moving at a speed of 7 to 8 km per hour (kmph) when he sensed the trouble and applied the brake. The local people praised the loco pilot’s presence of mind and felicitated him by offering flower bouquets.
