Maharashtra: Alert train drivers avert derailment in Matheran, save lives

A piece of metal rail placed on tracks between Matheran and Neral

A major disaster was averted as alert drivers of Matheran Hill Light Railway stopped the train in the nick of time as they spotted multiple pieces of metal rails and rods placed on tracks between Matheran and Neral at about 5:30 pm on Sunday evening.

Officials said that a major disaster was averted as the train with passengers was returning downhill from Matheran when loco pilot Dinesh Chand and assistant loco pilot Sudhanshu P. spotted this and braked hard to stop the train in the nick of time to avoid derailment. It seems to have been placed by unidentified miscreants and the railways are investigating the matter further.

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The full stretch of Neral-Matheran railway's complete section has recently opened to the public since October 22 and has been a hit with passengers with trains running full. The complete stretch of the popular Neral-Matheran train had been shut since 2019 after monsoon damages. There had been three monsoon damages in 2022 as well and now they have been fixed.

From the period October 22 to October 30, a total of 3,698 persons including 229 in vista dome, 378 in first class, and 3,091 in second class have travelled registering revenue of Rs 4,84,141. This includes revenue from the sale of Vista Dome tickets amounting to Rs 1,49,995 which is almost 31 per cent of the total amount.