The Night Samastipur Nearly Saw a Major Train Mishap

Picture this: It's a busy Tuesday night, around 8:30 PM, at Samastipur Railway Station in Bihar. The air is thick with the usual hustle and bustle – folks saying their goodbyes, porters rushing, the distant rumble of an approaching train. Then, suddenly, a collective gasp, a chorus of shouts, and a frantic dash. Why? Because a train, the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express (number 12568), bound for New Delhi from Darbhanga, was literally pulling away from the platform, leaving one of its air-conditioned coaches – with passengers inside – completely detached and stranded.

Can you imagine the sheer panic? Passengers who were settled in the AC-3 coach, designated B-5, suddenly realized their coach wasn't moving with the rest of the train. It was still sitting there, static, as the long string of carriages began to inch forward, gaining speed. Those on the platform, witnessing this bizarre and terrifying sight, immediately began shouting. Some, in a desperate attempt to alert the train's guard, actually ran alongside the moving express, waving their arms, their hearts pounding in their chests.

This wasn't just a minor oversight; this was a recipe for a potentially horrific accident. If the train had gained significant speed or gone much further, re-attaching the coach would have been incredibly difficult, and the implications of an unattached coach on a busy platform or mainline are truly frightening. Thankfully, a very sharp-eyed Station Master, Alok Kumar Singh, quickly grasped the gravity of the situation. He was alerted to the unfolding drama, probably by the commotion and the rapid-fire reports from frantic passengers.

Without a moment's hesitation, Station Master Singh sprang into action. He immediately radioed the driver, relaying the urgent message: "Stop the train! You've left a coach behind!" His quick thinking and decisive action were absolutely crucial. The driver, receiving the emergency instruction, brought the massive train to a halt. It was a close call, indeed, but disaster had been averted, all thanks to the vigilance of the passengers and the rapid response of the railway staff.

Once the train was safely stopped, the process of re-attaching the rogue coach, B-5, began. It took a little time, causing a delay of about 20 to 25 minutes – a small price to pay for ensuring everyone's safety, wouldn't you agree? After the coach was securely coupled and all checks were done, the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express finally resumed its journey to New Delhi, thankfully with all its passengers and coaches accounted for.

Naturally, an incident of this magnitude demands answers. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Vinay Srivastava, didn't waste any time and promptly constituted an inquiry committee. The initial assessment points squarely at "negligence" from various railway departments. It seems like a confluence of errors, possibly involving the coaching depot staff, the electrical department, and perhaps even the guard, led to this incredibly dangerous oversight. Hopefully, this inquiry will shed light on the exact sequence of events and lead to stringent measures to prevent such a frightening scenario from ever happening again. It's a stark reminder that even the smallest slip-up in railway operations can have enormous consequences.