Bengaluru railway cops nab runaway truck driver who caused near-fatal accident
Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express driver applied emergency brakes after truck illegally crossed track at 8.30 pm on Monday
BENGALURU:
An alert loco pilot of train No 06232, the Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express, saved the lives of nearly 1,380 passengers on board after he noticed a truck on the track between Heelalige and Carmelaram stations on Monday night.
SWR sources told TheBengaluruLive that there was no level crossing, nor was there a road where the truck had trespassed. “The truck had illegally trespassed the track and it was an illegal man-made path. No vehicles pass from the stretch on the track at km 188/700. There is no official level crossing. We do not know why and how the truck reached the track. We have filed an FIR with the Government Railway Police for further investigation,” said a top official.
FIR and enquiry
The source added, “The railways have ordered an inquiry to get to the root cause of the incident. It will be premature to comment at this point. It was the alertness of the loco pilot who applied the emergency breaks to avert a major mishap. But even then, the locomotive hit the truck.”
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As per officials, the truck (KA 02 9110) trespassed on to the track at km 188/700 at around 8.30 pm. The loco pilot of the oncoming train, No 06232, the Mysuru-Myladuthurai Express, applied the emergency brakes, but still could not avoid hitting the truck.
Truck driver flees spot
There are no reports of injuries to any of the train passengers or crew. The lorry driver abandoned the truck and fled the spot. The GRP has been informed and an FIR has been filed, said an officer.
Quick restoration work
The Divisional Railway Manager and senior officers of Bengaluru Division reached the spot at 10.40 pm with accident relief medical equipment and a doctor. The track was cleared by 12.30 am. Despite a heavy downpour, the officials managed to restore the track and train operations within two hours of the incident.
Track certified fit
After the track was cleared of the truck, a team of railway experts certified the track fit for further rail operations. “Train No 06232 was pulled back to Carmelaram station at 12.40 am and later restarted movement to its destination,” said an officer.
Trains affected
As a result of the incident, the following trains were affected but their services were subsequently restored:
• Train No. 01013 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Coimbatore Express Special at KSR Bengaluru.
• Train No. 06236 Mysuru-Tuticorin Express Special at KSR Bengaluru.
• Train No. 07389 Yeshvantpur-Kannur Express Special at Banaswadi.
Food arrangements
Railway officials have expressed regret over the unforeseen incident. “The inconvenience caused to passengers due to the delay is regretted. However, arrangements were made for provision of water and food for passengers waiting in regulated trains at KSR Bengaluru, Banaswadi and Bengaluru Cantonment through food stalls and train-side vending,” a release said.
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