Tirunelveli: A major train accident was averted on Diwali day when the alert loco pilot of the Podhigai Express train from Sengottai to Chennai spotted a large boulder on the tracks near Kadayanallur and brought the train to a safe halt.
The incident occurred yesterday evening when a 10 kg stone was mysteriously placed in the middle of the tracks in the Boganallur area. The quick-thinking loco pilot acted swiftly, stopping the train and removing the obstruction, thereby preventing a potentially catastrophic derailment.
Podhigai Express Narrowly Escapes Derailment on Diwali Day
Railway police were promptly informed and have launched an investigation to determine if there was a conspiracy to derail the train. Authorities are working to identify who placed the stone on the tracks and their motives.
This incident bears eerie resemblance to a similar event on September 26, where two individuals were arrested for placing a stone on the tracks in Kadayanallur. Recently, bolts and nuts were removed from tracks in Kavaripettai, Tiruvallur district, causing a passenger train to collide with a freight train. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating suspicions of a conspiracy behind this accident.
The Diwali day incident has sent shockwaves among the public, highlighting the potential disastrous consequences if the train had derailed. The swift action of the loco pilot has been hailed as heroic, preventing a major accident and ensuring the safety of hundreds of passengers.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses.