Detection of bomb on rail track in E Champaran triggers panic, kids stop a train

Dr K K Kaushik

Muzaffarpur: Detection of a pressure cooker bomb on the railway track at the outer signal of Ghorasahan railway station on Raxaul- Darbhanga section of the railway on Sunday noon triggered panic in the area and railways authorities and East Champaran district administration officials immediately swung into action. RPF Commandant and Bomb Disposal Squad rushed to Ghorasahan from Muzaffarpur and defused the bomb. The recovery of bomb at pillar number 19 at the outer signal of Ghorasahan railway station in East Champaran district affected movement of trains for hours.

In fact, the children present on the spot stopped a passenger train approaching Ghorasahan railway station by waving their shirts to the loco pilot who stooped the train about a kilometre away from the railway station. Everyone lauded their bravery as they had averted a major train accident. The passenger train was enroute Sitamarhi from Raxaul.

The district administration has sounded alert in the border areas and police were investigation whether it was an act of naxalites or terrorists. It may be mentioned here that maoists had planted can bomb on the railway track between Motihari and Pipra railway stations in 2010 and blew up seven bogies of a goods train.

The East Champaran SP said that the bomb had been defused and railways tracks were safe. He said the normal traffic would resume soon. He aid the bomb pats were being lifted from the spot as exhibits. The SP said that nuts and bolt used for shrapnels indicated it was a typical naxal IED.