A potentially tragic disaster was narrowly avoided on Thursday when alert individuals successfully stopped a fast-moving train just in time to prevent a collision with a school bus trapped at a level crossing. The incident occurred as the Chhindwara-Itwari Express approached the crossing at Khaparkheda near Nagpur, with about 40 students on board the bus.
According to a local daily, the school bus and a car stuck in the middle of the level crossing when the gateman closed the gates on either side, leaving the vehicles stranded. The students, from a well-known school, were enroute to the Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station residential colony when they noticed the approaching train, leaving them horrified.
The report stated that the bus driver, conductor, and students raised an alarm, alerting local residents to the danger. Recognizing the imminent threat, the residents rushed to the tracks and began waving to signal the train driver to stop. Some passers-by grabbed a red flag from a railway kiosk, while another person placed a plastic barrier on the track to catch the driver’s attention.
Fortunately, the train driver noticed the commotion and managed to stop the train before it reached the level crossing. The gates were then opened, allowing the school bus and the car to pass through safely.
Senior Inspector Dhanaji Jhalak of the Khaparkheda Police Station confirmed the incident, stating that no one was injured. He explained, “One of the level crossing gates likely closed before the other, trapping the school bus and a car in the middle of the crossing. This left no opportunity for the vehicles to move to safety.” Jhalak praised the passers-by for their swift actions, which alerted the train driver and averted a disaster.
The Railway Protection Force is investigating the incident, and the South East Central Railway (SECR) engineering division has summoned the gateman for clarification. A source from SECR remarked, “The two vehicles mistakenly entered the railway crossing despite the closing gates. Although no one was harmed, the incident caused considerable alarm.”
The prompt intervention of local residents and the swift response of the train driver ensured the safety of everyone involved, preventing what could have been a tragic accident.