After seeing flaws in a train coach’s chassis, vigilant railway workers in Tamil Nadu averted a colossal catastrophe. The officials quickly withdrew the damaged coach from the Kollam-Chennai Express. A few days prior, a severe railway disaster in Odisha claimed the lives of 288 people and injured 1,200 more. The Balasore tragedy, now the deadliest crash in Indian history, is under investigation. It has been suggested that the investigation be handed off to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Â
The cracks were found in Tamil Nadu on Sunday night as a rolling stock inspection was done at the Sengottai Railway Station. The occupants were immediately moved to a neighbouring coach while the ill-equipped S3 coach was quickly severed from the train. The problem caused a one-hour delay in the departure of the Kollam-Chennai Express from Sengotai. At the following stop in Madurai, another coach was added onto the train to substitute the S3 coach that had been removed.
Details of the Averted Disaster
The S3 carriage of train No. 16102 produced a rupture when it entered Sengottai station in Tamil Nadu at 3:36 p.m. on Sunday. The fracture was developed when the train crossed the Punalur Forest Division. The train left at 4:40 p.m. after railway personnel promptly separated the coach and placed the passengers in other coaches.
 According to a statement from Southern Railway, the divisional railway manager for the Madurai Division will recognize and reward the work members who discovered the crack. Meanwhile, the Indian Railways restarted operations on the disaster-affected track in Odisha after the quadruple train catastrophe in Balasore.Â
According to sources, the cracked coach may have presented a serious threat if it had continued travelling at a faster speed. Between Tenkasi and Virudhunagar, the train is allowed to go at a rate of 100 kilometres per hour and 110 km/h beyond that.
Similar Incidents Detected on the Route
A similar incident occurred on the route to Chennai when the locomotive controllers of the Kanyakumari-Chennai Egmore Express observed two truck tires positioned on the railway track early on Saturday morning and progressively delayed the train. As a result, a severe accident was avoided. Despite the locomotive ramming into the tires, authorities said it was at a relatively slower speed, and as a result, none of the passengers were hurt.
The super-fast train arrived at Trichy at about 12:30 am on its way to Chennai. Around 1:05 am, when the train was leaving Valadi station, the loco pilot spotted a black item on the rail and slammed the brakes. The train was received by two large tires stacked on top of one another, which certain miscreants placed in an act of sabotage. The locomotive struck the tires, which then came to a quick halt nearby. The locomotive and one of the tires became entangled, cutting the train’s power supply.
Manish Agarwal, the divisional railway manager (DRM) for Tiruchy, praised the loco pilot for acting quickly to avert a catastrophic tragedy. The incident caused a 34-minute and 12-minute delay for the Nellai Express and Muthu Nagar Express at Lalgudi.
A potential disaster was largely avoided due to the railway officials’ alertness and prompt reaction. This incident happened just one day after the terrible railway catastrophe in Balasore, Odisha, which claimed the lives of many.Â
