Kohima : A swift response by a Territorial Army battalion averted a major train accident in the Noney district of Manipur, according to an official statement from the PRO, Ministry of Defence, Manipur and Nagaland, on Tuesday.

A goods train, consisting of 21 wagons carrying rice, was en route to Khongsang station in the Noney district when excessive rainfall in the early hours of July 30 washed away the crushed stone supporting the tracks between T-14 P2 and T-15 P1. This damage posed a significant risk of track instability and misalignment, the statement added.

A soldier from the Territorial Army patrol deployed along the Jiribam to Khongsang railway line identified the damage and promptly alerted authorities to the impending danger.

The railway authorities were immediately informed, and the incoming goods train was stopped at Kambiron by Army personnel. The timely intervention by the Territorial Army prevented what could have been a major train accident.

The Territorial Army is deployed along this stretch of the railway line to provide security for the under-construction mega railway project linking Jiribam to Imphal.

Their vigilance and quick response underscore the critical role they play in ensuring the safety and security of this essential infrastructure project.