Bikaner Express engine derails

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, December 4

A major mishap was averted on the Delhi-Bikaner railway track when the engine of the Bikaner Express (12457) derailed and caught fire after hitting a container near Nanwan railway station, about 20 km away from here, in the wee hours today. No casualty was reported. The train left for its destination via Rewari-Bhiwani-Hisar after railway officials arranged another engine.

The railway traffic between Rewari and Loharu was disrupted for over eight hours and three trains were diverted. Railway officials from Bikaner also reached the spot and conducted preliminary inquiry.

Sources said the mishap took place when the overloaded container got stuck on the railway track. The driver of the container truck failed to notice the underpass to cross the track, which led to the accident.

The engine dragged the container bearing Nagaland registration number up to 300 metres. SS Verma, Station Superintendent at Satnali, said that fire tenders took an hour to douse the flames. He said an engine was brought from Rewari to take 22 coaches of the train to Bikaner.

Verma pointed out that the train driver, Kesri Singh, averted a major mishap by applying emergency brakes after spotting the container on the track and prevented the coaches from getting derailed. The rail traffic was resumed on the track around 11 am.

Sources said the driver of the container escaped after failing to cross the track.