Villager, loco pilots avert train mishap

A major train accident was averted on Tuesday thanks to two alert loco pilots and a villager, between Omalur–Karuvalli Stations on Bangalore – Salem Section. The train was coming to Bangalore.

According to railway officials, the villager K Sudhakar of Periyapatti, Omlur Taluk in Salem District, on noticing the train (Tr No 17236) Nagercoil-Bangalore City Express, at around 6:40 am, approaching on the sunken tracks, promptly waved a piece of cloth alerting the loco pilots. 

Officials said the loco pilots Gafoor Ahmed Sharif and D Santosh, applied emergency brakes stopping the train. They then duly informed Karuvalli Station as well as Power Control Office at Bangalore about the incident. Officials said the train could have derailed, if it not for the brakes being applied in the nick of time.

Officials say despite this, the engine and a bogie of the total 21 bogies had crossed the sunken track. 

The railways has announced a cash reward of Rs 2,000 for both the loco and assistant loco pilot.

Stating that the track had sunk following rains in the area, officials said, it was repaired in an hour, after which the train resumed its journey.