SAMASTIPUR, Jan. 13 -- A major rail accident was narrowly averted at Samastipur Junction late on Monday night after an unsecured heavy iron hydrant pipe got wedged between a moving train and the platform, triggering sparks and damaging station infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the divisional railway manager (DRM) has suspended the supervising section engineer (SSE) and initiated disciplinary action against him, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at around 10.54 pm on January 12 when train no. 13032, the Jaynagar-Howrah Express, was entering platform number 3 at low speed. According to the Samastipur division of East Central Railway, a hydrant pipe kept near the Muzaffarpur end of the platform for watering work rolled onto the tra...