Chennai-bound Vaigai Express train was running half an hour behind schedule as a 60-year-old car mechanic was knocked down by it near Balakrishnapuram railway gate near here on Wednesday.
The train was stopped immediately as it dragged the body of Rathinam of West Govindhapuram here to a distance. Police rushed to the spot and removed the body to Dindigul Government Hospital for post-mortem. The train left the level crossing after half an hour.
After preliminary investigation, the police said that Rathinam committed suicide by jumping in front of the train as he had been experiencing chest pain for long. Railway Police have registered a case.
Traffic jamAs the train was stopped across the level crossing, the gate keeper could not open the gates to clear vehicular traffic. The worst-affected were school students who were going to schools to take annual exams.
Autorickshaws, buses and school vans were stranded in both directions of the level crossing. Some auto drivers, who got stranded on the eastern side of the gate, requested their counterparts stranded on the western side to transport students to schools to avoid delay. While some autos picked up the children, others were kept waiting at the gate.
