In a bizarre incident, the Purnagiri Jan Shatabdi express train ran backwards between Tanakpur-Pilibhit railway line on March 17 evening for over 20 km, a railway official said. The train which was on its way to Tanakpur in Uttarakhand from Delhi was finally stopped near Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district. The train’s brakes failed due to leakage in the pressure pipe which left the pilots helpless to stop it and sparked panic among the passengers, said an official. Railway crossings were shut to avoid any untoward incidents on the track. The train crossed Banbasa and Chakarpur railway stations before railway officials managed to stop it close to Goshikuaon village near Khatima of US Nagar district at about 5 pm. Later, 26 passengers travelling in the train were seated in roadways buses.