Loudspeakers of mosque helped North Bengal train accident victim to unite with family

Jan. 15: Safikul Ali of Darrang was a passenger in the ill-fated Guwahati-bound Bikaner Express which derailed in the Moynaguri region of North Bengal on last Thursday. He was also severely injured and was admitted at the Super Specialty Hospital in Jalpaiguri. Safikul Ali was, however, unable to contact anyone from his home who used to stay at Dhula area in Darrang, Assam.

Meanwhile, the next day Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the accident site and also went to see the injured patients who were undergoing treatment at the Super Specialty Hospital in Jalpaiguri. Ali too was admitted at that hospital. His family did not have any mobile phone. All Ali could tell was the mobile number of one of his neighbour. On the instruction of the Railway Minister, attempt was made to call that number, but it was in vain.

Finally, the village in which Safikul Ali lived came to know about this incident. In his village, there was a mosque. The mosque committee used the mike fitted there for daily Azan to make announcement about the status of Ali after the train accident. The plan worked out and his family soon came to know about the whereabouts of Safikul Ali and they immediately left to meet him at the hospital in Jalpaiguri.

12 Coaches of Bikaner – Guwahati Exp. derailed near New Maynaguri (West Bengal) in which 9 persons were killed and several others injured.