The attack on the Gurdaspur police complex, and the bombs on the railway tracks claimed the lives of several civilians and policemen.
While the Punjab police did a commendable job, with the Indian army backing them up, the presence of mind and tact of two civilians saved the lives of over 300 people.
The Bravery of a Bus Driver
Nanak Chand remained calm and composed as terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons fired at the vehicle he was driving.
Chand did not panic and drove the heavy vehicle away to the civil hospital as a few passengers had sustained bullet injuries. He later rang up the police to inform about the incident.
There were nearly 65 passengers on board the bus, the driver later told reporters. Chand said he did what he could do best under the given circumstances.
A man wearing Army uniform and had his face covered with a cloth, tried to stop the vehicle. The person seemed suspicious to me. Soon, he opened fire at the bus”
— Nanak Chand
He will be soon honoured for his bravery, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal issued a statement.
The Lineman Who Saved 270 Lives
Trackman Ashwani Saini turned out to be the saviour of 270 passengers aboard the Amritsar-bound passenger train. The train came to a grinding halt just three kilometers before entering Dinanagar.
The train, having seven bogeys, began its journey from Pathankot at 5:10 am. It came to a halt just 100 yards from the bridge where five bombs (attached to sophisticated detonating devices) were planted.
The site where the explosives were planted is barely two kilometers away from Dinanagar. The terrorists knew that if the bombs went off while the train was passing over the bridge, not only the passengers, but also the bridge will also be blown up. Such an event would throw rail traffic out of gear on the track.
According to Dinanagar station master Gurdial Saini, Ashwani was on duty checking the line from Dinanagar to Jhakholari.
What Exactly Happened
- At 6 am, he spotted five bombs on the bridge. Saini did not get cold feet.
- Holding a red flag in his right hand, he started running towards the train.
- Saini, an employee of the Engineering Department of the Ferozepur railway division, frantically waved the red flag while running towards the train.
- Luckily, the train driver noticed him and applied brakes. The train came to a halt just 100 yards away from the bombs.
- Saini informed the station master, who then called up district administration officials.
- A bomb-disposal squad of the Army was pressed into service that rendered the bombs ineffective in around two hours.
- An engine was requisitioned from Pathankot to pull the train back to the city.
- Dinanagar, Gurdaspur, Dhariwal and Batala railway stations were vacated and search operations launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the police.
A tragedy of insurmountable proportions has been averted due to the presence of mind exhibited by Ashwani Saini. The man showed immense character. We should salute him.
— Gurdial Saini, Dinanagar Station Master
Divisional Railway Manager (Ferozepur) Anuj Prakash has recommended to the railway board to confer an individual award on trackman Ashwani Saini for his bravery.
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