A team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel posted at Dalgaon railway station in Birpara, Alipurduar district, made a prompt move to help three patients cross a level crossing on Wednesday by halting a train for around 20 minutes.

The level crossing near the station is closed regularly because of the frequent movement of trains. Road commuters, especially patients, are often stuck at the railway crossing.

“Earlier, a footballer from Bangladesh had died in an ambulance as he failed to reach the state general hospital in Birpara. The ambulance was stuck at the level crossing. A tourist from New Zealand had died because of the same reason,” said a resident.

On Wednesday, the Alipurduar-bound Mahananda Express was heading to the Dalgaon station. At the railway crossing, sirens had started blowing and the gates were about to be closed. At that time, the on-duty RPF personnel found that two ambulances, carrying patients to the hospital, had been stuck near the level crossing.

They immediately rushed to the spot and halted the train outside the station. The RPF personnel made space for the ambulances and allowed the vehicles to cross the level crossing.

An e-rickshaw carrying a woman patient was also helped to cross the tracks.

The gates were closed then and after around 20 minutes, the train entered the station.

Shyamapada Choudhury, the station manager of Dalgaon, appreciated the RPF. “The initiative is definitely appreciable. It helped the patients reach the hospital early,” he said.

The residents said such intervention by the RPF was just a temporary step.

“We want a permanent solution to this problem and have been demanding a road overbridge so that we don't face any inconvenience,” said Prabir Saha, a resident.