The reflexes of a driver prevented a train tragedy in Bhagalpur on Sunday morning.

The engine of Gaya-bound 13023 Gaya-Howrah Express derailed between Gogha and Lailakh stations on the Kiul-Sahebganj loop section of the Eastern Railway, about 14km east of Bhagalpur around 5.15am on Sunday. No compartment, however, derailed despite the engine stopping around 350m from the tracks.

No casualty was reported either, said Eastern Railway sources.

Passengers on the train were blissfully unaware of their good luck. “I had no idea what had happened. When the train stopped, I inquired and found out,” said Prabhakar Gupta, who was travelling to Munger and had boarded the train at Rampurhat.

The driver, N. Tiwary, had a few nervous moments, though. “The train was moving at a speed of 90-100km per hour when I felt a sudden jolt. I applied the emergency brakes immediately and the engine stopped around 350m from the tracks,” he said.

Rabindra Gupta, divisional railway manager (DRM), Malda, said: “The welding between the tracks had become old and loose. As a result, the train went off the tracks around 5.15 on Sunday morning.”

Asked why the old tracks were not being repaired, Gupta said replacing of old tracks and sleepers between Mirjachouki and Bhagalpur would begin soon.

“The repairs up to Mirjachouki were recently completed. As long as the tracks are not replaced, we shall ensure night patrolling, which had stopped in winter,” said Gupta.

He added that engine driver Tiwary would be rewarded for his efforts.

“A major mishap was averted because of his fast thinking. Usually, drivers cannot detect cracks in tracks and allow trains to pass over them, leading to accidents. Tiwary will be rewarded by the railways for preventing such a tragedy,” DRM Gupta said.

Traffic on the route was delayed by a few hours. Some long-distance trains like Vananchal Express, Howrah-Jamalpur Express, Brahmaputra Express and Bhagalpur-Barhowrah Express were held at different stations, resulting in inconvenience for passengers.

Debjyoti Mukherjee, a passenger on Vananchal Express travelled from Kahalgaon to Bhagalpur by road after his train was stopped at the former station.

“It was very inconvenient for all of us,” he said.

Traffic on the route resumed around midday.