It was just another day for Afzal Bubere (21), who went fishing to a pond adjacent to the railway tracks between Vangni and Badlapur, approximately 75 kms from CST.

He was walking towards the pond at 8 am yesterday when he noticed something unusual.

The tracks were hanging without support because heavy rains had washed away the soil beneath and created a three-metre deep breach.

Hero: Afzal Bubere spotted damaged railway tracks and informed authorities, averting a major disaster

Presence of mind

Worried that a major disaster lay in store if a train passed over the tracks, he ran to a railway cabin situated near Vangni station and informed the officer about the danger.

The officer alerted the control room and directed all approaching trains to halt.

"Had the trains passed over the tracks, there would have been many casualties," said a motorman who saw the spot. Services resumed at 1 pm after engineers rectified the fault.

The Goregaon village in Thane district, where Afzal stays, hailed its hero.

"I am happy that my son saved the lives of many people. He should be given a job instead of an award since he is unemployed," said Shamim, Afzal's father.

Srinivas Mudgerikar, chief PRO, Central Railway, said, "We heard that a fisherman averted a disaster. But we are still investigating the matter. We will appreciate his efforts once we get the report."

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