Train drivers suspended for failing to halt at stations

A train driver, an assistant driver and a guard were suspended and a department inquiry ordered against them for allegedly "dozing off" and failing to stop a passenger train at the scheduled stops at Dholbezza and Pothia halts near Forbesganj in Bihar.
    
The incident took place on June 1 which saw large scale damage to railway property at Khusrupur station by thousands of villagers protesting against the withdrawal of a halt there for Rajgir-New Delhi Sharmajivi Express. The station was set on fire, five bogies of two trains torched and the railway track uprooted.
    
Senior Divisional Commissioner Manager of North East Frontier Railway (Kathihar division) S K Jaanbandhu told PTI on Wednesday that the driver S N Baraik and assistant driver Gopal Mandal had allegedly dozed off and drove past Dholbezza and
Pothia halts in Jogbani-Kathihar section after the train started from Forbesganj station. They stopped the train after frightened passengers raised a hue and cry.
    
"We have taken the matter seriously and suspended the driver, assistant driver and Guard R Mehtar on charge of dereliction of duties," the railway official said.