Kolkata-Amritsar Express Goes Off Course for 30 Minutes; Passengers Narrowly Avoid Disaster

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 20, 2024, Kolkata :  In a troubling incident highlighting ongoing issues within railway operations, the Kolkata-Amritsar-bound Durgiana Express (12537) mistakenly traveled in the wrong direction for nearly half an hour. The error was only rectified after the train reached Nakodar station, causing significant alarm among passengers.

The train departed from Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon but took an incorrect route after leaving Jalandhar en route to Amritsar. It was at Nakodar station that the driver became aware of the mistake and halted the train, leading to an uproar among the disgruntled passengers. Many voiced their frustrations over the incident, which could have resulted in a serious accident given the high speed at which the train was traveling.

Following the incident, railway authorities dispatched a separate engine to redirect the train toward Amritsar. Fortunately, despite the gravity of the situation, no major accidents occurred, and all passengers were unharmed.

This incident raises critical questions about the railway system's operational protocols, as it appears that multiple layers of oversight—including station masters, control room personnel, and signal staff—failed to detect such a significant error in routing.

As investigations are likely to follow, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved safety measures and oversight within the railway system to prevent similar occurrences in the future.