
THOOTHUKUDI: In a case of suspected sabotage, cables in the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli passenger train were found damaged on Tuesday morning.
Railway sources told Express that train No 732 usually arrives from Tirunelveli and then makes a night halt at Tiruchendur railway station before leaving for Tirunelveli by 7.20 am. On Tuesday at 6.30 am loco pilot Manthiram and assistant loco pilot Vellaiyan found “the cables attached to the electrical control system removed,” the source said.
Based on a complaint, the railway police and officials conducted investigations and the particular train service was cancelled.
It may be noted that this train serves as a connecting train for passengers from Chennai Egmore-Tirunelveli Superfast Nellai Express.
Hundreds of school and college students and office-goers regularly board this train from Tiruchendur, Kayalpattinam, Arumuganeri, Kurumbur, Nazareth and Srivaikundam on the way to Tirunelveli and due to the timely intervention a tragedy was averted.
Investigating officer, inspector Sakthivel of Government Railway Police (GRP), said only those who are familiar with the systems could have done this. “Chances of a theft bid seem to be remote,” he said. Sakthivel said that technicians from Erode, where this train belongs to, are on the way to investigate into the technical issues. He said that fingerprint experts and sniffer dogs were brought to the spot.