An express train stopped near China Salem on Saturday night as it didn’t get the signal to pass a level crossing, since a drunk gatekeeper was sleeping inside the signal room without closing the gate.
According to a source, the Chennai-Salem Express was stopped some distance before Chinna Salem station in a forest area as the loco pilot didn’t get a signal from the Chinna Salem-Tiruchy road level crossing gatekeeper.
The loco pilot waited for a long time and informed officials at Chinna Salem railway station. They rushed to the gate and found that since the gate was not closed, the train driver didn’t get the signal to pass. They searched for gatekeeper Pasubathi (50), who was on duty and found him in the signal room and was sleeping after consuming liquor.
The officials arranged an alternate gatekeeper and later the train started from there. An official from Chinna Salem railway station said Pasubathi was suspended immediately after the inquiry, on Sunday.