In a remarkable demonstration of presence of mind, a 12-year-old boy in Bihar’s Samastipur prevented a potential train accident by alerting authorities to a broken railway track. Mohammad Shahbaz, the quick-witted youngster, noticed the damaged section of the track near Bhola Talkies Gumti on the Muzaffarpur railway line and promptly flagged down the approaching train using a red towel. His swift action averted what could have been a disastrous incident and earned him praise from local authorities and residents, highlighting the importance of vigilance and quick thinking.
Speaking to local reporters, Shahbaz shared how he and his friends acted swiftly to save the lives of hundreds of passengers aboard the Howrah-Kathgodam Express. “We saw the broken railway track on our way back home. Soon, we saw a train approaching. I used my red towel to wave at the loco pilot. He saw me and stopped the train,” Shahbaz recounted.
The video of Shahbaz’s interview, shared by the Samastipur Town handle on X, has gone viral, garnering over 41,000 views. Commenters applauded the boy’s bravery, with one commending, “Well done Shahbaz,” while another suggested, “He deserves Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.”
Samastipur Town, in a post on X, honored Shahbaz for his courageous act, stating, “The child who prevented a train accident in Samastipur with his intelligence was honored.”
Railway officials swiftly responded to the situation, arriving at the site to initiate repair work on the damaged track. Prior to Shahbaz’s alert, several trains, including the Amrapali Express, Mithila Express, Bagh Express, Ahmedabad Sabarmati Express, Samastipur-Muzaffarpur MEMU Special, New Delhi Clone Special, Vihar Sampark Kranti Super Fast Express, and Maurya Express, had passed through the area.
