53-year-old disabled coolie runs 6km to avert major train mishap in Udupi

Harsha Raj Gatty | coastaldigest.com
October 31, 2018

Neglecting his limping leg, a 53-year-old coolie worker raced 6 kms to alert railway authorities of a broken track and averted a major railway mishap at Udupi last Saturday. By the time the railway team reached the spot, the earlier gap in the track had already widened and the train bound from Goa was on arrival.

Diagnosed with a nerve issue in his right-leg over a year ago, Krishna Poojary was at the habit of walking barefoot on the gravel stone-bed on the railway track for quite some time. "I am under injections and medications. However, as a therapeutic relief the doctor had advised me to walk on the gravel stones, as it would relax my leg muscle. Since I stay close to the track at Korangrapady, I have made it a point to walk on it on a daily basis. Otherwise, besides the train there is no other person in that area at any point of time," he says.

A little over 06.30 am on Saturday, Poojary was on his regular routine, when he noticed a crack at Brahmasthana in Korangrapady. "Since, I could not seek anyone's help, I quickly started pacing towards the Indrali railway station," he says. Despite the seething pain, Poojary claims that he was able to reach the station office in 30 minutes.

At the station, Poojary apprised the railway personnel about the track condition. The officials immediately alerted higher authorities and within 40-minutes the team led by Poojary reached the spot for inspection. "By the time we reached, the track had already widened. It was later learnt that unaware of the danger a goods train had somehow managed to pass in the meanwhile," Poojary said.

On learning that a train from Goa was en-route, the railway authorities instantly contacted other stations and informed them about the impending danger, while simultaneously fixing the track. "In a short while, we informed other trains to pass. But we had advised them to slow their speed, since temporary emergency devices were put in place to avert the sudden danger," a railway official said.

Generally a coolie worker, off season Krishnappa dubs himself as a cook at a local eatery called 'Cool Point’ at Korangrapady. On being asked, how did he manage to be committed to the cause despite the injury, Krishnappa recounts his memory of witnessing a 40-year-old railway incident at Nelamangala.

“During those days when education was a luxury, this boy who worked with us at a shack as a waiter had successfully finished his graduation and was returning home. He was de-boarding a running train at Nelamangala station, when his bag got stuck in one of the hinges at the boogie door and he was pulled back to the fast moving vehicle. The scene of the body being dragged and crushed is still fresh in my mind, as we watched helplessly," he said. Poojary adds that he is constantly plagued by the thought of the incident. "I would have never been able to forgive myself if something had happened this time. I believe, the emotions made me forget my pain and I did not even realise my leg mattered until I reached and alerted the railway officials," he says.

Felicitation

Recognising his heroic effort, the Konkan Railway will felicitate Krishna Poojary at his home on October 31. “We appreciate the trouble he took us to inform about the crack and we will felicitate him for his noble work,” Konkan Railway PRO Sudha Krishnamurthy told media.

Comments

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Exceptional work!

Shameless liar. Don’t you feel shy to tell such lies? He doesn’t even know what is sangh parivar. He is an honest coolie worker. I know him very well. He had worked for me also.

Naren Kotian
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

A big salute to Krishna Poojary, a proud karyakartha of Sangh Parivar. This teaching of Sangh parivar is behind this noble deed. Sadly newsportals like CD hide the fact that he is a Sangh Parivar worker.

Sandeep Ullal
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

True humanity. 

Subbu Acharya
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

Wow.. great. he deseves highest award for his effort

Shahjahan, Ma…
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

I fully agree with Sri Vasantha Bangera. Sri Poojary deserves award not less than the award of Karnataka Rajyotsava for his heroic act.

Mahesh
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

The Great Indian Man!,...

Vasantha Bangera
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

He deserves Rajyotsava award and a huge reward. Not just felicitation by railways. It is the responsibility of the Udupi district administration and elected representatives to recognise this noble man.

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 5,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 5: B S Yediyurappa-led Karnataka cabinet has finally decided to resume supply of subsidised rice and wheat to students of welfare institutions and hostels including those run by religious mutts under the Dasoha Scheme’s welfare programme. The supply was stopped over two months ago.

“Cabinet has decided to continue supply of subsidised foodgrains (rice and wheat) for the benefit of 37,700 children under the Dasoha scheme in 351 welfare institutions for the next one year at the cost of Rs 18 crore,” said J C Madhuswamy, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister. Under this scheme, institutions that provide free accommodation and food for students are entitled to avail 10 kg rice and 5 kg wheat per student every month at subsidised rates. But following a central government directive in November, the state government had stopped supply to private institutions since December.

Hours before the cabinet meeting, Khader addressed a press conference and said, “This government is snatching away food from children by stalling the supply of foodgrains. Institutions like Suttur Mutt, Siddaganga Mutt that have worldwide fame for their service are being inconvenienced by this,” Khader said.

Finding itself in a fix, especially in a matter that involves mutts, the cabinet was quick to restore the supply. “Foodgrains were being supplied to 183 government-run institutions and 281 institutions run by private entities. As per a central government directive, supply to private institutions was stopped but the decision was made by the previous government,” Shashikala Jolle, Women and Child Development Minister, said.

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News Network
June 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 27: The Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office on Infantry Road has been sealed after one of the staffers tested Covid-positive. It will remain shut from June 27 to 29. 

A senior police officer from the administrative department, in a media release, stated that almost the entire staff has been asked to work from home, while some have told to work from sub-divisions of DCP’s offices. 

It is said that one of the staffers, who recently reported for duty at Anti-Terror Cell (ATC), tested positive on Friday, and officials took a decision to seal the premises after the media got wind of it. 

Earlier, a function for Drug Observation Day too was held on the premises on Friday. The staff has not been asked to go on quarantine. 

Only a few staffers have been asked to come to the police control room situated in the same building.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 28: After a youth from Dakshina Kannada who tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 revealed that he had travelled by a bus, authorities have requested all his fellow passengers to visit their nearest district hospital. 

The 21-year-old man hailing from Belthangady taluk had flown from Dubai to Bengaluru on March 21 and on the same day travelled to Mangaluru by the KSRTC bus bearing registration number KA 19, F3329

As he was suffering from fever and cough he was admitted to Puttur government hospital on March 24. He was tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 27.   

It is not yet know how many passengers were there on board the above mentioned bus which had departed Bengaluru at 4:30 p.m. on March 21. It is believed that most of the passengers who travelled by this bus are residents of Dakshina Kannada. 

Hence, the KSRTC authorities today requested all the passengers who travelled by this bus to visit their nearest district hospital for necessary checkup. The passengers also were urged to quarantine themselves for next couple of weeks.

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