The incident took place near Mangaluru last month. (Representative)
Mangaluru:
A 70-year-old woman from Mandara in Mangaluru is being widely praised for her presence of mind that helped avert a train accident in Karnataka recently.
Railway police sources said the incident took place on March 21 at around 2:10 pm when the woman Chandravati, who was outside her house, saw a tree fallen on the track between Padil and Jokatte.
Chandravati, who knew that the Matsyagandha Express from Mangaluru to Mumbai would pass through the same route, entered her house, took out a red cloth and waved to the loco pilot of the oncoming train.
The loco pilot, who saw it, sensed the danger and slowed down the train, which stopped near the spot where the tree had fallen on the track.
Later railway personnel and local people reached there and ensured that the tree was removed from the track.
The elderly woman was felicitated by the Railway Police at a function attended by senior officers on Tuesday.
Chandravati, who recalled the incident, told reporters that as soon as she saw trees falling on the track, she ran towards home with the intention of informing someone.
By that time, she heard the train horn and realized that there was no time to waste and came out carrying the red cloth. She ran towards the track and waved the cloth.
Chandravati said she had no time to think about her recent heart surgery while running towards the track.