‘Driver-less’ engine runs 3 kms, slams into train
Passengers on board Bandra-Jaisalmer Humsafar Express had a providential escape Friday night when a driver-less railway engine slammed into the train at Basni railway station.
The “rogue” engine travelled a distance of about 3 km on the track’s downward slope from Jodhpur’s suburban railway station Bhagat ki Kothi before slamming into the stationary’s train engine.
The impact derailed six
JODHPUR:
wheels of the Humsafar Express. The passengers felt a strong jerk and some luggage also fell of the berths. However, no injuries were reported.
Railway officials said a probe has been launched to investigate how the engine rolled down the track. As per the officials, the engine, brought from Marwar junction, was parked on the second line at Bhagat ki Kothi station.
The railway tracks being at a considerable slope, Railway sources said, the engine started moving towards Basni station at around 8.20pm.
As it started gathering speed, the raiway staff alerted authorities following, which attempts were made to stop the engine by putting stones on the track.
The engine, however, crashed through the stones before coming to stop after ramming into engine of Hamsafar Express. This resulted in a sharp jerk to the passengers sitting in the train. Six wheels of the train engine got derailed.