The bogie that was left behind at Chamagram station on Thursday and (above) experts examine the brakes on the wheels. Pictures by Surajit Roy

Malda, Sept. 18: A major accident was averted early this morning when a cabin man spotted sparks emanating from underneath a bogie of a speeding Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail and alerted the station manager.

Senior engineers, who examined the defect after the express was made to stop at Chamagram station on orders from the control room in Malda, said the brakes on the wheels of the 10th bogie from the engine had jammed. The sparks were caused by the wheels which were being dragged along the rails. They said if the fault was detected a little later, the train could have been derailed. There were 72 passengers in the bogie.

The incident took place around 4.30am, 20 minutes after the train, originating from Guwahati, had left the Malda Town station. The station manager at Chamagram, Ananta Kumar Jana, told reporters that on getting the message from the cabin, he alerted the control room, which told him to put the signal down so that the train halted at the station.

The train was detained for over three hours as another bogie was brought from Malda station after engineers failed to repair the brakes of the stricken compartment. The train left Chamagram at 8.11am.

The defective sleeper coach (NR05247) has been kept at Chamagram station. The railway engineers said the wheel and axle boxes of the coach had been burnt because of the excessive heat generated from friction.

“I heard a loud screeching noise and saw sparks flying for more than a foot long below the train. As the train sped by, I smelt the burning metal. I immediately alerted the station manager,” said cabinman Kailash Mondal.

Traffic inspector (movement) Manoj Sharma said it was not possible immediately to say what had caused the problem. “However, we are relieved that the snag was detected and the train could be stopped before it derailed,” he said.

Restless passengers, however, demonstrated at Chamagram over the delay. “The passengers were complaining that the railways do not carry out any maintenance work and safety checks. This incident proves that the allegations are true,” said Rafiqul Islam, who was on the train when it was stopped. Passengers also complained that there were no food or even a tea stall at Chamagram station, he said.

The divisional manager of the Eastern Railways (Malda division), Anup Sahu, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. “The cabinman and the station manager acted on time. We have replaced the affected coach and because of that there was some disruption in train services on this line,” he said.