Baripada: A gateman deployed at a level-crossing was suspended for allegedly falling asleep and failing to show signal to a passenger train at a railway station in Odisha’s Mayurbjanj district.
However, a possible mishap was averted due to prompt steps by the trainn driver at Jugupura railway station in the district.
The gateman, identified as Ratnakar Mahanta, was placed under suspension for dereliction of duty following the incident that took place on Wednesday, sources said.
Ratnakar was on duty when Bangiriposi-Rupsa DMU reached Jugupura railway station. There was nobody at the station to give signal to the train by showing the green flag.
One of the loco pilots reportedly stopped the train at the station and rushed to the spot only to find that the gateman on duty was asleep. Then he woke up the gateman and gave signal to the train himself by showing the green flag. Subsequently, the other loco pilot drove the train.
While the gateman has been suspended for dereliction of duty, further probe into the incident is in progress.
