Title - Public address system installed at Dhamara Ghat, DRM/Samastipur

DHAMARA GHAT (KHAGARIA): Over 50 hours after 28 passengers were crushed under the wheels of speeding Patna-bound 12567 Rajyarani Express on the middle track at Dhamara Ghat railway station on Saharsa-Mansi section under Samastipur division of East Central Railway (ECR) on Monday, the railway has responded swiftly to public demand and installed the public announcement system at the station on Wednesday.

“Was it not like slamming the stable when the horse bolted,” quipped Sanjeev Kumar, an advocate at Saharsa adding “If it had been in place, the tragedy could perhaps be avoided on Monday.”

DRM/Samastipur, Arun Malik told on Thursday that the two of three tracks, which were closed after Monday’s tragedy, would be opened from Friday and signal system and others, which were vandalized, should also become functional in the next few days.

The 12567/12568 Rajyarani Express, and all other trains, passing through Saharsa-Mansi section, have been resumed, and are also sticking to their time schedule, a senior railway official said. The superfast Rajyarani Express shuttling between Saharsa and Patna had in all 19 coaches but at present it has 15 coaches including one AC chair car. Meanwhile, politicians are making a beeline to the families who have lost their dear ones.

Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, social welfare minister Praveen Amanullah and ex-MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav were among those who empathized with the kin of those who died in the accident on Monday.