Alert gangmen averted a probable train accident on Friday morning with the timely detection of a major crack on the Mysore-Bangalore railway track. At stake were the lives of 800 passengers on the Mysore-Bangalore Passenger.
Sources at Mandya Railway Station said that the crack between Byadarahalli and Pandavapura stations was spotted during a routine check even as the train crossed Srirangapatna railway station and was to reach the spot, near Lokapavani bridge, a few kilometres away.
The train usually passes the spot around 9.25 a.m. But on Friday, it was running late by a few minutes. Alerted by the gangmen, authorities at Mandya and Srirangapatna stations instructed the engine driver to halt. The train stopped a few metres before the crack at 9.30 a.m., sources added.
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Maintenance personnel rushed to the spot and repaired the track by 10.45 a.m., Nisarga H. Malligere, a passenger, told
Engine drivers are instructed to travel at 10 km per hour on such sections, he added. However, Friday’s case was different as it was a major crack and the department will ascertain the cause, he said.