Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 26: Southwestern railway chief manager Gajanan Mallya, has appreciated the presence of mind and quick decision making skill displayed by the loco pilot, assistant loco pilot and guards of train No. 01134 Mangaluru Junction-CST Mumbai train on July 23. He has also announced cash reward for these personnel.

The train was moving from Kulem in Goa towards Castle Rock on July 23 morning when the loco pilot of the front engine Ranjith Kumar, noticed that huge mounds of mud was getting dislodged from the nearby hillocks on the railway tracks ahead of him near the Dudhsagar-Sonalim section of the railway tracks on account of torrential rain experienced in the region then. The pilot applied emergency brakes and stopped the train. As rocks mixed with slush had fallen on the tracks, even after applying the brakes, the engine derailed.

The pilot immediately contacted the station master of Dudhsagar station and asked him to convey information to Hubballi controlling office. The guard of the train, Shylendar Kumar, noticing that emergency brake was being applied, used the hand brake of the brake van. The train was then tied to the tracks with the help of chains and wheel skids were placed to avert any slide. As mud and slush continued to pour on the front compartment immediately behind the engine, Ranjith and Shylendar shifted the passengers in the first three compartments to other compartments. The train was later carefully taken to Kulem while two of the railway staff stayed back to help rescue operation at the spot where the train had derailed.