In a bizarre and scary incident, a passenger train travelling from Delhi to Uttarakhand rolled backwards for a distance of atleast 35 kilometres after the train developed a technical gltich. After running in the backward fashion for over 35 kilmometres, the train was finally stopped in Uttarakhand’s Khatima, around 33o kilometres from Delhi.
The Purnagiri Janshatabdi Express was on its way to Uttarakhand’s Tanakpur from Delhi when the driver had to press brakes to avoid collision with an animal that had strayed on to the railway tracks. After this incident, the driver lost control of the locomotive and the entire train started moving backwards.
#WATCH | Purnagiri Jansatabdi train runs backwards due to cattle run over b/w Khatima-Tanakpur section in Uttarakhand. Incident happened earlier today.There was no derailment & passengers were transported to Tanakpur safely. Loco Pilot & Guard suspended: North Eastern Railway pic.twitter.com/808nBxgxsa
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2021
The train ran backwards for at least 35 kilomteres before it was able to stop at Khatima. The visuals accompanying media reports show the train pass through a station at a good speed and it showed the train pulling the locomotive backwards.
Once the train was finally able to stop, the passengers were sent to Tanakpur by bus. The North Eastern Railway reportedly said that no passengers were hurt and the Loco Pilot and guard have been suspended pending investigation into the incident.