Security guard recounts horror

Bhubaneswar: Laxman Barik (55), from Baisinga in Mayurbhanj district, had booked a ticket in a general bogie in the Coromandel Express bound for Chennai, where he works as a security guard. As he reached Balasore station late, he boarded an AC coach in a hurry and survived as the general bogies were worst-hit killing a majority of passengers in the triple train accident near Bahanaga Bazar railway station on Friday night. Barik, undergoing treatment at Capital Hospital here, said he will never forget the fateful night for the rest of his life. “I was standing near the toilet of an AC bogie I boarded hurriedly from Balasore station. Suddenly I could hear sound of screeching metal and the train tilting to one side. Within seconds, I found myself pushed to a corner of the bogie as it careened off the tracks,” recalled Barik.He suffered injuries on his ribs and his right leg was fractured along with minor cuts. Despite being in shock and feeling severely disoriented, Barik realised the severity of the situation and quickly jumped out of the derailed carriage. Other passengers were also attempting to escape, and he could hear screams of panic and confusion everywhere. Amid the chaos, Barik grabbed his bag and went to an open space.“I was suffering from severe pain on my right ribs and leg. I was not able to stand. A few co-passengers offered to take me along with them and we walked to the main road from where we took a line bus and reached Bhubaneswar around 11.30 pm. After arriving at Baramunda bus stop in blood-stained clothes, I asked an autorickshaw driver to take me to police and they brought me to hospital,” Barik recounted.