Aligarh: A long-distance passenger train flirted with disaster due to the callousness of two passengers.
The Sampark Kranti Superfast Express avoided a major mishap thanks to an alert gateman, leading to the arrest of two youths, reported PTI.
An official of Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Aligarh said that the incident took place on the night of January 3, when the gateman posted at a railway crossing near Barhan station observed a flash of light and smoke from a coach of the Sampark Kranti Superfast Express, which was coming from Assam.
The gateman immediately informed his superiors at Barhan railway station, and the train was stopped at Chamraula, the next station.
As they combed through the running train, RPF personnel found some men had lit a bonfire inside a general coach with dung cakes to get relief from extreme cold conditions.
The fire was doused before it could cause any damage. The train proceeded to Aligarh Junction, where 16 persons were detained.
Rajiv Verma, RPF Commandant posted at Aligarh railway station, told newspersons on Saturday that Chandan (23) and Devendra (25), who are from Faridabad, admitted they had lit the bonfire.
They were booked under relevant sections of IPC and Indian Railway Act, and taken into custody.
The other 14 passengers, who had joined them later, were released after a warning.
