Inquiry ordered into action of loco pilot

TIRUCHI, July 22, 2016  SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT THE HINDU

: The railway authorities have ordered an inquiry into an incident wherein a loco pilot of the Kanyakumari – Chennai Express overshot the red signal at the starter point at Mathur railway station and entered the non-electrified track leading to detention of train and few others in the early hours of Wednesday. Power supply to the electric locomotive too got cut

Loco pilot Edwin Sahayaraj and Assistant Loco Pilot Sivaraj have been placed under suspension.

Sources said the Kanyakumari-Chennai Express (train No. 12634) was regulated at Road No. 3 at Mathur railway station for crossing of the Chennai – Mangalore Express (train No. 16859) at around 2.30 a.m. without any delay. A relief locomotive from Sendurai was brought to the spot and pulled the formation of the Kanyakumari Express from the sand hump. The train was hauled using a diesel locomotive up to Chennai. The train suffered detention for over two hours due to the incident.

Four other trains also suffered detention en-route for over two hours.

Sources said the Loco Pilot and Assistant Loco Pilot were sent for medical examination to Vriddhachalam. A detailed inquiry would be conducted by the authorities concerned in this regard.