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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News Network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: The condition of former Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, is clinically stable and he is responding to COVID-19 treatment, the hospital authorities said on Friday.

"Leader of the opposition and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is clinically stable and responding to COVID-19 treatment. He is comfortable and his appetite has improved. Our team of experts will continue to monitor him closely," Manipal Hospital said in a health bulletin.

Siddaramaiah had informed on Twitter on August 4 that he tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted himself to a hospital.

Since then, he had been active on twitter and attacked the BS Yediyurappa government in Karnataka over their handling of COVID-19 and heavy rainfall situation.

Earlier on Friday morning, Siddaramaiah remembered Nobel laureate and poet Rabindranath Tagore on his death anniversary.

The former Chief Minister of Karnataka also condoled the demise of Karnataka State Wakf Board chairman Dr Mohammed Yusuf on Friday.

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News Network
April 4,2020
Udupi, Apr 4: District Commissioner Jagadeesh has warned that the vehicles of people who break lockdown norms will be seized.
 
Addressing the media, he said, “People who want to buy essential items are allowed come out of the house between 1100 hrs and 1900 hrs, but we have noticed that some are unnecessarily coming out and blocking the roads. If this continues, vehicles of such people will be seized.”
 
No new COVID-19 positive cases were reported since Friday Udupi district.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 27: Karnataka witnessed the biggest single-day spike in Covid cases on Saturday as 918 cases were recorded and 11 more deaths were linked to the pandemic. 

In Bengaluru alone, 596 more people tested positive for the infection in the last 24 hours as three more fatalities were also confirmed by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services.

Following is the district wise tally:

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