MEERUT: An alert driver saved lives of hundreds of commuters on board 12206- Nanda Devi Express as he applied emergency brakes after spotting a 17-foot iron rod placed in the tracks. The incident happened in Meerut's Pootha villlage when the New Delhi-bound Nanda Devi express was crossing the area during wee hours of Sunday morning. The driver spotted the rod kept on the tracks and applied emergency brakes but the train stepped on the rod before it came to a screeching halt.The driver then alerted the control room after which senior officials pressed in action. Senior superintendent of police Rajesh Pandey, superintendent of police (city) Ranvijay and other officials of the police and administration landed at the spot to take stock of the situation."The derailment bid was foiled by alert driver. Prima facie it looks like some miscreants, mostly chronic drug addicts who steal fish plates and other railway equipments, placed the rod on track," SSP Pandey said.Locals claimed that this could be handiwork of miscreants who often steal railway property to make quick buck for their drug or alcohol dosages. Police, however, is not ruling out a foul play behind the incident. "This matter will be taken up seriously despite our initial assumption of local miscreants behind it. Anyone found guilty will be brought to justice," SSP Pandey said.Train derailments have been a frequent occurance in the state with authorises suspecting of foul play in several cases.Since April 2017, three major derailments have occurred in three sections of Northern Railway in UP. In the first of these, Rajya Rani Express was derailed on April 15, 2017 near Rampur. On August 19, in another horrific derailment, Kalinga Express jumped tracks in Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar . A total of 21 lives were lost while dozens were injured in the accident. Only four days later, on August 23, another major derailment took place near Auraiya when eight coaches of Kaifiyat Express derailed. More than 20 passengers had sustained injuries in the accident.

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