Title - Alert loco pilot averts disaster

Chennai: This loco pilot is a real life saver. The lives of several dozen rail passengers aboard an EMU near Pattabiram would have been in jeopardy but for the alertness of 46-year-old loco pilot D. Kura­larasan of Tiruninravur.

The loco pilot and other passengers had a close shave when a 25KV high voltage overhead electric traction (OHT of the railway line) came perilously close to touching the EMU (train No: 4311-MMC to Pattabiram) in which they were travelling. Thankfully, the loco pilot stopped the train and made all passengers alight, averting a major mishap.

Around 1.30 pm, when Kuralarasan was piloting the EMU towards the terminal stop from Pattabiram, he noticed the OHT swaying. Just as he moved the EMU close to the diversion towards the military siding, he noticed that the OHT was swaying towards the train.

Instantly, he stopped the train, climbed down and alerted all passengers to alight. Nearly 60-odd passengers realised the gravity of the danger lurking over them when they noticed the proximity of the line to the train after alighting.

Further inquiries revealed that the fitting assembly of the OHT on the FCI side had got damaged, leaving the wire sagging. Though there are provisions that make the connection trip as soon as the OHT comes in contact with the train, a mishap could not be ruled out as there was no guarantee that it would trip, said a railway official, preferring anonymity.

Two EMUs, bound to the military side, were returned from Pattabiram owing to the OHT failure.