Leaking train sprays LPG at Pune station

Instead of halting LPG goods train in the outskirts of the city, Railway officials ferried it in to Pune station, packed with weekend crowd

Instead of halting LPG goods train in the outskirts of the city, Railway officials ferried it in to Pune station, packed with weekend crowd

The government's smoking ban at public places saved the day for Puneites yesterday. Had the ban not been in place, a major catastrophe could have occurred at Pune railway station.

Yesterday morning, a train plying from Uran to Bhilawadi near Sangli, carrying 621 tonnes of LPG from BPCL gas plant at Uran, sprung a leak near Harris bridge (between Khadki-Bopodi).

However, instead of halting the train in the outskirts of the city, railway officials decided to ferry the leaking train into Pune station. The station was packed with the weekend crowd, and the slightest spark could have caused a major mishap.

Alert guard
Early yesterday morning, the train's guard noticed the leak in wagon number three and the freight train was immediately stopped.

Fire Brigade officials were called in and the officials alerted locals asking them to turn off their stoves and avoid cooking. However, fire officials revealed that while they were still clearing the area, the train's driver received a message on his mobile phone, asking him to move the train towards Pune Station.

Assistant Divisional Fire Officer D N Nagalkar said, "When we reached the spot at 8.23 am, the LPG was oozing out of the wagon number three. We began alerting the residents there."

Nagalkar said "But as firemen were busy dispersing the crowd at Harris Bridge, the train started moving.

Knowing the gravity of the situation we decided to follow the train till Pune Railway station."

Diluting the gas
Railway officials felt that moving the leaking train would help the gas dilute and disperse in the air.

Central Railway PRO Y K Singh, said, "Had we ordered the train to stop, there could have been a major catastrophe. So, we decided to move the train allowing the LPG to dilute in the air."

Only solution
Gajanan Pathrudkar, Fire station duty-in-charge, said, "There was a huge risk when the train was passing through Pune railway station. But we had deployed fire engines to keep the train cool and avert any untoward incident."

He added, "It was necessary to move the train to an isolated spot. The unloading facility required for gas tankers was available at Ghorpadi yard, so it was important to move the train there."

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