Loco derails, close shave for passengers

Sources said that the loco pilot, who heard some unusual sound, immediately applied brakes bringing the train to a halt. Later, when the loco pilot got down and inspected, he found that the engine had jumped off the track 200 metres ahead of the Tiruchy railway junction. The mishap was caused by a crack on the track. The engine was rerailed and the train resumed its journey to Chennai after three hours.

The Egmore bound train (no 12623) had departed from Karaikudi at 4.30 am and was supposed to reach Tiruchy junction at 6.15 as per schedule. But the engine had derailed while it was inching close to the junction railway station. Since the train was plying at a slow speed a major mishap was averted, said officials. The passengers lauded loco pilot S Murugan’s swift action, which saved the lives of hundreds of passengers.

Soon after the incident, a railway workers’ crew rushed to the spot and put the engine back on the track after a two-and-a-half-hour operation. The train resumed its journey and left the Tiruchy junction railway station at 10.05 am.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Tiruchy division, Uday Kumar Reddy has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.