A major train accident was avoided near Panchdamia Ghataro Halt in Vaishali on Sunday morning. The loco pilot of the Koderma-Vaishali train number 63383 showed presence of mind and stopped the train just in time as a railway crossing gate was left open. The incident took place at around 6:15 AM at railway gate 8C/E because of the negligence of the duty staff.
How was the rail accident prevented at the crossing?
The train was traveling from Koderma to Vaishali when the pilot noticed that the crossing gate was open for road vehicles. Instead of proceeding, the loco pilot applied brakes and brought the train to a halt before reaching the gate. This quick action saved many lives as several vehicles were using the crossing at that time. Two railway employees then had to step out of the train to manually close the gate so the train could pass through safely.
Official action and details of the staff negligence
Following the incident, the railway department took immediate action against the staff responsible for the safety lapse. PWI Pramod Kumar confirmed that the gatekeeper has been removed from duty pending further investigation. The key details regarding the staff involved are as follows:
- Gatekeeper Suspended: Divyanshu Kumar was suspended for negligence and arriving 15 minutes late to his duty.
- Loco Pilot Action: The pilot followed the safety protocol of stopping the train upon seeing an open gate at the crossing.
- Railway Rules: Officials stated that every gate must be closed and secured before a train is allowed to pass to ensure zero risk of accidents.