On Monday, two East Coast Railway (ECoR) personnel received recognition for their extraordinary alertness and fast thinking, which helped avert possible mishaps and guaranteed passenger safety. Track Maintainer-II Srinivas Bhoi from the Sambalpur Division and Loco Pilot Dhirendra Kumar Jena from the Khurda Road Division received honors from ECoR General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal.
On February 17, 2026, the first incidence took place. Bhoi noticed an anomaly in a passing train’s wheel while on Keyman duty along the Loisingha-Balangir segment. The wheel was not turning and was producing sparks. He promptly informed the station superintendent, allowing for quick train control. Inspection revealed a serious wheel fault and a locked axle, averting a potential derailment or accident.
In a similar vein, Jena noticed track buckling between Malatipatpur and Sakhigopal stations on March 4, 2026, while operating a MEMU train from Puri to Khurda Road. He stopped the train right away and alerted the relevant authorities, displaying a keen sense of vigilance. In addition to restoring safe track conditions and averting any inconvenience or risk to later services, this quick action made repairs possible.
Funkwal commended the two workers for their professionalism during the award ceremony and emphasized how important frontline railway employees are to maintaining safety regulations. He emphasized that sustaining dependable and accident-free train operations across the network requires such proactive attention.
