Bhubaneswar, March 22: Many passengers of Bangiriposhi - Bhubaneswar Superfast Express escaped death by a whisker today as alert villagers of Khannagar in Balasore raised alarm seeing a big crack on the track, forcing the train to halt inches away from a grave danger.

The Bhubaneswar-bound train had left Balasore station in the morning. But the train crew members had little idea that that there was a five-inch wide crack on the track about 200 metres ahead of Nilgiri Road station, which is not a scheduled stop.

After leaving Balasore, the train had already picked up speed when the alert villagers of Khannagar started waving a red towel to stop the train after noticing the crack.

The driver noticed the villagers waving the red flag frantically and applied brakes to stop the train about 20 metres away from the crack, said a passenger.

Sudhakar Sethi, an eyewitness to the incident who is also a railway employee, said: "Had the villagers not promptly stopped the train in time, there would have been a big accident here today."

Station manager Satyaranjan Rout said: "There was a delay of 25 minutes following the emergency stoppage, but precious lives were saved. The train left for its destination after the line was repaired."

"The reason behind the crack is yet to be known. The railway technical wing is investigating the matter," he said.

The villagers of Khannagar, whose prompt action saved the lives of passengers, said they were extremely happy to be of some help to those in the train.

"This is all we could have done for them. They belong to our country and we feel proud to have saved their lives," said a villager. He refused to disclose his identity, saying that the credit for noble deed should go to the entire village.