BENGALURU: An alert train driver averted an attempt to derail a train in the Bengaluru Railway Division. The attempt was made on the Siddaganga Intercity Express (Bengaluru to Dharwad) on Saturday afternoon. There were no casualties or injuries to the nearly 1,500 passengers on board. The train’s engine was damaged.
According to railway sources, a huge rail piece had been placed on the tracks between Yeshwantpur and Chikkabanavar. “The Intercity left Bengaluru at 1 pm and crossed Yeshwantpur by 1.45pm. It was on its way to Chikkabanavar when the loco-pilot Surendran spotted a 3-metre-long piece of rail lying on the tracks and applied emergency brakes.”
This averted a possible accident, a top official said.
“However, the rail piece got tagged on to the bottom of the locomotive and was dragged for a short distance. In the process, the cattle guard was damaged and the cable equipment under the engine too were affected.” The engine became malfunctional and stopped moving.
Cattle guard is the metal sheet or iron bars in front of the engine that prevents an object that comes in contact with the loco, including cattle, from going beneath the engine and damaging its traction motor.
“We suspect the role of miscreants deliberately attempting to derail the train. However, it could be the work of kids leaving behind a rail found next to the tracks while playing,” another official said. “We’ll get more information from the findings of the inquiry,” he added.
Another engine was brought to the spot in a relief loco from Chikkabanavar. The damaged engine was replaced and the train started running after a two-hour delay, an official said.