Alert Loco Pilot Saves Drunk Man on Tracks at Bhubaneswar Station
A sharp-eyed loco pilot averted a potential disaster at Bhubaneswar railway station on Sunday morning. The pilot acted swiftly when a drunk man suddenly lay down on the tracks as an express train approached.
Emergency Brakes Applied Just in Time
The incident occurred at 9:39 am. The Rangapani-Nagarcoil Amrit Bharat Express (02603) was entering Bhubaneswar station for a scheduled halt. Thirty-eight-year-old P Appana Rao, a resident of Laxmisagar, rushed onto the tracks and lay down directly in the train's path.
The loco pilot immediately applied the emergency brakes. The train came to a complete stop in the Bhubaneswar yard, just a few hundred meters from the station platform.
Railway Staff Responds Promptly
Railway Protection Force personnel and train escorting staff reached the spot without delay. They found Rao under the influence of alcohol. Initially, he refused to move from the tracks, but the team managed to take him into custody.
Officials shifted Rao to the RPF post at Bhubaneswar. The train was moving slowly as it entered the station, which helped prevent a more serious incident.
Minimal Disruption to Services
Thanks to the professional response of railway staff, the train experienced only a six-minute delay. Services resumed from 9:39 am to 9:45 am with minimal disruption to passengers and schedules.
Ashok Gochhayat, inspector in-charge of GRP Bhubaneswar, said police contacted Rao's family. They handed him over to his wife after completing necessary inquiries.
Special Significance of the Train
The Amrit Bharat Express holds special significance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train just one day earlier on Saturday. This incident occurred during its inaugural run.
The East Coast Railway issued a statement confirming all details. They praised the alertness of railway staff in preventing what could have been a fatal accident.
