Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Aug 6: Passenger of Jammu bound Malwa Express had a narrow escape when the train had to apply emergency brakes due to landslide on the Jammu-Udhampur track near Dasroo Malhar, around 14 kilometers from Udhampur, this morning.
Engine of the Malwa Express got partially damaged while two members of Railway Cooking staff sustained minor injuries in the accident that took place at the exit of tunnel number 16 around 7.20 am.
Due to blockage of exit way of the tunnel with boulders and mud, the train traffic was suspended on the Jammu-Udhampur track.
Reports said that due to overnight rains, landslide took place near the exit of tunnel number-16, minutes before the Malwa Express was scheduled to pass on the track for reaching Jammu and onward journey to Madhya Pradesh.
A Railway Keyman Arvind Pathak who was on routine track checking when the landslide took place, immediately fired signal bomb and waved red flag to the Malwa Expressing, which was approaching nearer.
Even as driver of the train applied emergency brakes, engine of the Malwa Express rammed into the debris but a major accident was averted.
On getting information, DySP General Railway Police Rajinder Kumar Kichloo along with GRP Jawans and other staff reached the spot and evacuated the passengers, who were shifted to DMU and local transport.
Due to sudden applying of brakes, burn injuries were received by two cooking staff members as hot cooking oil fell on both. They were identified as Shankar and Bablu of Uttar Pradesh.
Even as the restoration work was immediately started for clearing the track, the train traffic on Jammu-Udhampur section is unlikely to be resumed by tomorrow.
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