Dakshin Express escapes disaster

Hoshangabad, MP, July 9 (UNI) A major tragedy was averted today along the Itarsi-Betul track by the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Hyderabad 2722 Up Dakshin Express' alert driver who applied the brakes but still could not prevent damage to two bogies and the locomotive that collided with a boulder, Railway sources said.

There was no report of injury. The incident occurred at about 1430 hrs near Barbatpur Station about 45 km from Itarsi. Besides sustaining damage to the safety guard, the locomotive's power supply was severed.

The train was halted at Barbatpur and an alternate locomotive was awaited.

''There was a loud sound and the train suddenly halted,'' passenger Amresh Pathak told UNI.

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