Three brothers save hundreds of train passengers

A major train tragedy was averted near Patna on Sunday night due to the presence of mind of three brothers.

Nearly hundred kilometres east of Patna is Mokama railway station, through which the 12423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express was supposed to cross on Sunday night.
Since Rajdhani does not have a stop at Mokama, it was asked to pass through platform No 4. Minutes before the premium train was to cross that junction, three brothers — Chotan Das, Manish Das and Sabir Das — reached Mokama station and were waiting for a local train to go to Athmalgola.

In the meantime, Chotan went to the other end of the platform to relieve himself. He was shocked to find that one metre of railway track was missing on the same route through which Rajdhani had been given green signal to cross.

He shouted for help and his two brothers, Manish and Sabir, rushed to the spot. While Chotan took out a torch, Manish flung his gamcha (mini-towel) as red flag, signalling the Rajdhani driver about the danger ahead. The driver after being alerted, used emergency brakes, and stopped the train barely seven feet before the damaged track.

Amid hue and cry, passengers, numbering more than 1,000, heaved a sigh of relief. Many of them got down to thank the three brothers.

East Central Railway (ECR) officials said that the tracks possibly snapped just after Kamla-Ganga Intercity Express crossed through the route (shortly before Rajdhani was put on that track).

“The real reason will be known only after a proper investigation is conducted,” said senior section engineer A K Mandal.

Meanwhile, the Rajdhani was brought back to Mokama junction and made to pass through platform No 3. The Railway SP, P N Mishra, said the railway police would felicitate the three brothers and recommend to the ECR to appreciate their effort and reward them.