Felt like a second birth, say survivors, as they recount horror | Bhubaneswar News
Cuttack: Rakesh Das was eagerly waiting to reach home in New Cooch Behar. The West Bengal resident, an IT professional working in Bengaluru, was travelling on the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express with his wife and twins. His sister was also accompanying them. His wife had given birth to the twins three months back and this was first time Rakesh’s parents would be cuddling the babies.
But for a while during the journey, fear gripped Rakesh. He didn’t know whether they would be able to survive the tremendous shuddering that had gripped the train as 11 coaches derailed at Manguli-Choudwar passenger halt, minutes after crossing Cuttack station.
“We were all excited that we were returning home after my wife gave birth to twins. But 10 minutes after the train left Cuttack, I found it trembling like it would break from the middle or go off track. I thought an earthquake had struck the train. I was trembling with fear. I was worried about our kids. When the train stopped shaking, we got down from the train. It felt like life has given us a second chance,” Rakesh said, still visible shaken.
Pankeswar Hazarika was also thanking the almighty after surviving the derailment. The 48-year-old Assam resident had undergone a treatment on his leg at a private hospital in Chennai and had boarded the train from Vijaywada.
Recalling the ordeal, Pankeswar said, “It felt like a second birth. The screeching sound was deafening. Before I could realise what was happening, I found myself trapped in my berth, unable to move due to my condition.” His nephew, Niyor Baruah, who was accompanying him, acted swiftly and pulled him out of the compartment.
“The moment the train derailed, I knew I had to get my uncle out. I somehow managed to lift him and drag him out despite the chaos around us,” Niyor recounted, his voice still trembling.
Pankeswar and his family, who spent over a month in Chennai for his treatment, were on their way back to Assam. They boarded the Kamakhya Express, expecting to reach home by Monday afternoon.
“We were all asleep when the derailment occurred. I woke up to screams and confusion. People were frantically trying to escape, and the situation was horrifying,” Niyor added. Despite the initial shock, Niyor’s quick thinking saved his uncle from what could have been a fatal situation.
Surath Lal Roy, a native of New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, was still trying to fathom what went wrong. “I was trying to sleep when the train suddenly jolted me out of my slumber. I thought the train would enter the land nearby after it derailed. But we were miraculously saved. Locals helped us very much. I appreciate their cooperation,” said Surath, who was returning from Bengaluru.
But for a while during the journey, fear gripped Rakesh. He didn’t know whether they would be able to survive the tremendous shuddering that had gripped the train as 11 coaches derailed at Manguli-Choudwar passenger halt, minutes after crossing Cuttack station.
“We were all excited that we were returning home after my wife gave birth to twins. But 10 minutes after the train left Cuttack, I found it trembling like it would break from the middle or go off track. I thought an earthquake had struck the train. I was trembling with fear. I was worried about our kids. When the train stopped shaking, we got down from the train. It felt like life has given us a second chance,” Rakesh said, still visible shaken.
Pankeswar Hazarika was also thanking the almighty after surviving the derailment. The 48-year-old Assam resident had undergone a treatment on his leg at a private hospital in Chennai and had boarded the train from Vijaywada.
Recalling the ordeal, Pankeswar said, “It felt like a second birth. The screeching sound was deafening. Before I could realise what was happening, I found myself trapped in my berth, unable to move due to my condition.” His nephew, Niyor Baruah, who was accompanying him, acted swiftly and pulled him out of the compartment.
“The moment the train derailed, I knew I had to get my uncle out. I somehow managed to lift him and drag him out despite the chaos around us,” Niyor recounted, his voice still trembling.
Pankeswar and his family, who spent over a month in Chennai for his treatment, were on their way back to Assam. They boarded the Kamakhya Express, expecting to reach home by Monday afternoon.
“We were all asleep when the derailment occurred. I woke up to screams and confusion. People were frantically trying to escape, and the situation was horrifying,” Niyor added. Despite the initial shock, Niyor’s quick thinking saved his uncle from what could have been a fatal situation.
Surath Lal Roy, a native of New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, was still trying to fathom what went wrong. “I was trying to sleep when the train suddenly jolted me out of my slumber. I thought the train would enter the land nearby after it derailed. But we were miraculously saved. Locals helped us very much. I appreciate their cooperation,” said Surath, who was returning from Bengaluru.
