Long after the last television van had left the scene and the last journalist had found his quote, life for the six railwaymen at the Diwana railway station returned a full-circle as they began their 12-hour shift. Having worked the graveyard shift the night before, after witnessing the Samjhauta Express tragedy unfold, these men were back at doing what they do best — their designated tasks at the station.

“I am the only new person in this group today. The rest of the group is same as last night,” says assistant station manager Suraj Pal introducing mukhya gaadi Babu Vinod Kumar, shunting master Mahavir, shuntman Nandkishore, pointsmen Badri Lal Meena and Vijay and waterman Dharm Singh. “Gateman Pawan Kumar is also back at Gate Number 47,” Pals adds with a smile.

The group, visibly fatigued after a tough day of running around after being on duty the whole night, cannot stop reminiscing about the events of the previous night.

“We had never thought we would be witness to such a tragedy someday. Those horrifying images will stay with us forever,” says Vinod Kumar. “This is such a small station. A handful of trains stop here and not many people disembark. It is sad that this place is in the news for the wrong reasons,” Pal says, tracking the movement of an approaching passenger train on an illuminated panel.

A clanking sound from one of the two identical machines on either side of his table attracts his attention. “Samalkha station wants clearance from us for the Kalka Mail,” explains Pal, pushing a button on the Block Instrument Machine. Pal then picks up the phone and has a friendly banter with his counterpart at Samalkha. “Saari gaadiyon ko sahi salamat bhejna,” he jokes.

... contd.