Alert loco pilots avert major rail mishap

Loco pilots are asked to report back irregularities witnessed on the tracks during their journeys.

By: Express News Service | Mumbai | Published:January 26, 2017 

CENTRAL Railway officials are investigating a case of “sabotage” at Diva railway station after a tragedy was averted by two loco pilots of the Madgaon-bound Janshatabdi Express, who spotted a 7.32-metre piece of rail lying across the tracks on the up fast line. The loco pilots applied emergency brakes in the nick of time when they spotted the rail piece. Officials allege that the piece of rail appears to have been placed across the tracks wilfully. On Tuesday night around 11 pm, loco pilot Harendra Kumar and assistant loco pilot Harish Chinchole stopped the train after spotting the rail piece. The stoppage caused a 15-minute delay. The rail piece was removed by Chinchole and a few passengers. At a press meeting on Wednesday, General Manager of Central Railway D K Sharma said the possibility of “sabotage” cannot be ruled out.