M A I N   N E W S

Villagers rush to help

Manj Phagowal, Ludhiana, May 15
The scene for womenfolk in this nondescript village along the Ludhiana-Amritsar tracks near Ludhiana was different before the dawn today as they were the first to see a train with three coaches burning in flames.

They cried for help, dropping the milking of their cattle midway, woke up the menfolk and the alarm for rescue operation was sounded from the public address system of a gurdwara in the village.

The residents, of all age groups, thronged the spot and engaged themselves in rescue and relief works even before the arrival of the Railway police and fire brigade squads.

Mr Manjit Pahalwan of the village told UNI that they came to know about the Golden Temple Express fire tragedy when the announcement was heard from the gurdwara around 4 am.

The villagers helped the passengers come out of the coaches and consoled them by offering water. They helped extricate burnt and injured passengers from the coaches and made efforts to put out the blaze.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire brigade arrived at the spot around 5 am, an hour after the accident.

Fire brigade squads from Ludhiana, Phillaur and Jalandhar were pressed into service and they took about an hour to control the blaze.

Meanwhile, the villagers also made arrangements to procure water supply from the nearby tubewell and assisted the firemen put out the fire.

Eyewitnesses and Railway and police officials present at the accident site said the train left Ludhiana around 3.45 am and it caught fire around 4 am while passing through the Laddowal. UNI

Gurdwara sounds SOS

People in this nondescript village along the Ludhiana-Amritsar tracks woke up this morning with a startle when the public address system of the local gurdwara, instead of relaying Gurbani hymns, sent an SOS to come to the aid of the trapped passengers of the Golden Temple Mail which had caught fire. In a quick response, many like Manjit Pahalwan rushed to the site and provided invaluable help much before the official help arrived. UNI