Title - High drama marks Thanjavur train inaugural

AIADMK, DMK cadre throng function, claim credit for its introduction

The new Thanjavur-Chennai Egmore Uzhavan Express was flagged off from Thanjavur Railway Junction on Sunday.High drama prevailed during the flag-off ceremony as cadre of the AIADMK and the DMK turned up in large numbers at the railway junction. The cadre, carrying their respective party flags, raised slogans to claim credit for the introduction of the new train.As R. Vaithilingam, Housing and Urban Development Minister, reached the stage, the AIADMK cadre surged forward and some climbed over the loco. Some cadre of the DMK too followed suit. The AIADMK cadre even put a picture of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in front of the loco. Soon Mr. Palanimanickam came to the stage and the train left at the scheduled time.The train that fulfils the long-pending demand of the people of Thanjavur for a direct night train chugged out of the junction at 8.45 p.m. The train will reach Chennai Egmore at 4.55 a.m. on Monday. “The train is running full with 750 reservations,” said railway officials. The train has 17 coaches out of which nine are sleeper class, one AC two tier, one AC three tier, four general second class, and two second class-cum-luggage.The train will stop at Papanasam, Kumbakonam, Aduthurai, Kuttalam, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkali, Chidambaram, Cuddalore Fort Junction, Panruti, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Melmaruvathur, Chingleput, Tambaram, and Mambalam. R. Vaithilingam, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, S.S.Palani Manickam, Thanjavur MP, and Manjula Rangarajan, Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, participated in the function.

V.Jeevakumar, adviser to Train Passengers Association of Thanjavur to Tiruchi, said that the train would be of much use to the people of Thanjavur. “It has been rightly named - Uzhavan Express - signifying the importance of the Cauvery delta and its farmers,” Mr. Jeevakumar said.

DMK worker dies

Raja (38), a DMK cadre from Keelavasal here, died after he fell off the loco of Thanjavur-Chennai Egmore Uzhavan Express that was flagged off from here. Raja was one among the party cadre who climbed up the loco with party flags. He fell off the loco and suffered injuries. Later, he died.