A booking clerk at the Paramakudi railway station was placed under suspension on Thursday after he reportedly turned up for duty in a highly-inebriated state and failed to issue tickets to passengers.
The clerk, Sunmugavel from Paramakudi, was heavily drunk that he was not even in a position to issue tickets to the 100-odd passengers who were waiting to board the Rameswaram-Chennai Express train for more than 30 minutes, Railway sources said.
On getting information, railway officials rushed to the ticket counter and brought the situation under control.
The passengers were then allowed to board the train and asked to get their tickets at Manamadurai railway station. After being issued tickets at Manamadurai, they continued their journey.
A higher official with Southern Railway told ‘Express’ over phone that departmental action would be initiated against the booking clerk after an inquiry with the station master, commercial inspector and other officials.
The Railway authorities made alternative arrangements to issue tickets to the passengers at Paramakudi, he confirmed.