Close shave for Amritsar-Guwahati parcel train, driver applies emergency break 10 meters before repair site

Guwahati: Passengers of a parcel train running between Amritsar and Guwahati recently had a narrow escape as the driver had to apply the emergency break just 10 meters before a repair site, as the crew did not receive any prior information.

As per reports, the incident took place between Kesari and Barara railway stations in Haryana. The engineering staff were reportedly working on the track without cautioning the loco pilot or putting any display board.

Sources said that the pandoral fast clip--the clip that fastens the rail to the concrete slab -- was opened and had the train crossed the track, it would have derailed from the tracts.

A driver, an assistant driver, and a chief loco inspector were present in the train's cabin.

Incidents like that have caused many accidents in the past few years. In a 2017 incident, the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express had derailed in Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district due to a communication gap between officials undertaking track repair. The tragedy left over 20 dead and 100 injured.

The Indian Railway, meanwhile, has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to repair tracks in various situations such as emergency repairs, temporary repairs, and permanent repairs. For each type of repair, there is a set protocol that includes delivering prior information to the train crew.

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