Title - Engine of Coimbatore Passenger derails

The engine of Coimbatore Passenger train and a coach derailed at Kariyamanikkapuram, just 1.5 km away from Nagercoil Kottar railway junction on Tuesday.

According to sources, the train used to depart from Nagercoil Kottar railway station from 7.20 a.m.

The employees tried to bring the train from the railway yard to the platform. But it hit the platform pit line and derailed from the railway track about 500 metres away from the Kottar railway station.

The impact was felt by the driver as it was about to fall into the nearby paddy field.

As there were no passengers in the coaches, a major mishap was averted even after the derailment, which happened at Kariyamanikkapuram.

However after the derailment, the employees and the rescue team rushed to the spot and restored the railway traffic after attaching the spare engine.

The Coimbatore Passenger departed from Nagercoil railway station at around 8.30 a.m. after about one hour delay.

Moreover, the departure of Island Express was delayed for one hour and the arrival of Ananthapuri express was delayed for one hour due to the derailment.

This was the third incident (hitting of pit-line) within a span of six months. Moreover, as the rescue team had to come from Thiruvananthapuram, the arrival and the departure of other trains were be delayed.

Shortage of staff

The shortage of employees in Kanyakumari district railway stations including Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Eraniel and Kuzhuthurai were said to be the reasons for the delay in restoring train traffic during such unexpected incidents.