Officials at Diwana rushed to the platform with a red signal and simultaneously talked to the driver and the guard on a walkie-takie. They also alerted the gatemen at Gates 48, 49 and 50. "At the speed at which the train was travelling, it could only come to a halt around 2.5 km beyond Diwana station near Gate Number 49," said Pointsman Badri Lal Meena adding that fire in the fourth and fifth coaches from the end could be seen as the train crossed Diwana station.

Ironically though, Pawan was probably the last one among the railway officials to get to know what actually had happened after the train had crossed his gate. "I am not allowed to leave my gate at any cost," he said. It was only after his 12-hour long shift ended at 8 am that Kumar went to the site where the two burnt coaches had been stationed along with the three coaches which were detached from the rest of the train.