KL Report
SRINAGAR
A major train accident was averted on Tuesday following the timely alert provided by Track Patrolling Party (TPP) who spotted a crack in the railway track at Hillar Shahabad halt in South Kashmir’s Islamabad district. Train carrying hundreds of passengers was ready to take off from Qazigund to Banihal and it was quickly stopped after the news about the damaged track reached the control room.
Station Superintendent Qazigund, Muhammad Shabir said that timely alert provided by TPP saved the lives of hundreds of passengers. “Our TPP as usual were passing by the railway track during the early hours of Tuesday noticed the crack. They immediately alerted a railway lineman who informed the railway authorities and halted the Qazigund-Banihal Passenger Train, which usually starts from the location at 7 in the morning.
Railway maintenance personnel rushed to the spot and carried out emergency repair works. The train, which was delayed by nearly two and an hour’s resumed its service at 9:30 a.m.
Sources said that full repair works were completed by around 9 a.m. after which train service was resumed.
Railway officials said that crack in the railway track developed due to torrential rains. “The railway track from Qazigund to Banihal has been laid on open land and usually there remains possibility of land sinking after the rainfall or snowfall,” Station Superintendent Qazigund said. (CNS)
