BENGALURU/KRISHNAGIRI: The front wheels of the engine of a Karaikal-bound fast passenger from Bengaluru derailed in
Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district on Sunday, but thanks to loco pilot SP Singh and guard Ramesh Kumar, no passenger was hurt nor any coach jumped the track. The two are from Bengaluru division.
The engine of 56514 Bengaluru-Karaikal passenger train derailed near Kadusettipatty, between Rayakottai and Marandahalli on Byappanahalli-Salem section of Bengaluru division.
The incident took place 10 minutes after the train left Rayakottai station at 9.30am and about 80km from Bengaluru.
Railway control room officials said the train was moving at a speed of 65km/hour and the loco pilot’s timely action resulted in it coming to a halt in 200 metres. Singh and Kumar realised the engine’s front wheel had derailed within no time, following which Singh stopped the train.
There were no injuries to any passenger/staff and no coach was derailed, said Bengaluru divisional railway manager Ashok Kumar Verma. Buses were arranged at
Hosur for Salem-bound passengers and snacks were provided to those stranded at Rayakottai.
The loco was re-railed at 12.53pm and the train resumed its journey at 2.34pm. The reason for the derailment is yet to be ascertained.
Karaikal passenger is a popular train among Hosur-bound office-goers from Bengaluru, and also used by those working on Outer Ring Road.