Agra Rail Division Suspends Staff After Near-Miss Incident

Incident Leads to Suspension of Railway Staff

On Tuesday, the Agra Rail Division took the significant step of suspending a station master and a traffic controller after they directed the Delhi-bound Jan Shatabdi Express onto a track that was under repair, endangering the lives of hundreds of passengers. According to sources, the alert train crew noticed a red flag placed by track maintenance workers and applied emergency brakes, stopping the train before it reached the section undergoing repairs.

Passengers' Safety Compromised

The incident put the safety of numerous passengers at risk. Reports indicate that the vigilant crew spotted the red flag and promptly halted the train before it could enter the repair zone. Prashasti Srivastava, the division's operational manager and authorized spokesperson, confirmed that disciplinary action was taken against the two employees involved. She stated, 'This is a case of poor operational planning by the two staff members. They have been suspended pending the completion of the investigation.'

Emergency Response Complications

Sources revealed that around 10:30 to 11:00 AM on Tuesday, a passenger's health deteriorated, prompting the train ticket examiner (TTE) to contact the Agra control room to request a stop at Chhata station. However, the train had already passed Chhata as the necessary instructions did not reach the locomotive pilot in time. The TTE then sought permission to disembark the passenger at the next station, Kosi, due to the worsening condition. When the train did not stop at Kosi either, the onboard staff made another request, leading to a decision to halt at Hodal station. Unfortunately, the station master hastily overlooked safety protocols and diverted the train onto a loop line that was under maintenance.

Potential Catastrophe Averted

Officials familiar with the situation noted that the maintenance crew had placed a red flag before the start of the loop line, which the alert crew observed, allowing them to stop the train in time. A division officer remarked, 'Had the locomotive pilot not acted wisely, a major accident could have occurred. Not only lower-level staff but also senior railway officials should be held accountable for such serious safety lapses.'