A major train accident in Uttarakhand was averted on Wednesday after Purnagiri Janshatabdi Express started running in a reverse direction on the railway tracks, but stopped a few kilometers away.
However, no one was injured in the incident. The train was going from Delhi to Tanakpur.
According to the North Eastern Railways, the train did not derail and all passengers were transported safely to Tanakpur. "The incident took place after cattle run over. The train stopped just short of the Khatima yard safely. There was no derailment and all passengers are safe, they were transported to Tanakpur. A grade-level inquiry has been ordered in the incident," an official statement from the ministry of railways said.
The loco pilot and the guard present in the train have been suspended and an inquiry has been ordered to look into the incident.
Superintendent of Police of Champawat, Lokeshwar Singh, told PTI that it is likely that sudden brakes were applied to avoid the possibility of hitting an animal, following which the train suddenly started running in the opposite direction. However, he said that after running in the reverse direction from Banbasa, the train stopped at Chakarpur.
The police officer further said that during the time of the incident there were about 60-70 passengers on the train.
This is the second incident in Uttarakhand within a week when a train accident has been averted.
On Saturday, a coach of the Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi to Dehradun caught fire near the Kansar range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. During this time, the entire coach of the train was gutted, but 35 passengers travelling in it were evacuated safely.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
