The movement of a few long distance trains and suburban electric train services between Tambaram and Chengalpattu were affected when a huge tree came crashing down on the overhead traction between Perungalathur and Vandalur railway stations on Saturday.
The fully grown tamarind tree on the margins of Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road fell down at 11.15 a.m. It fell on the main line towards Chengalpattu and brought along with it, the overhead traction.
The compound wall separating the railway lines from the GST Road too collapsed as a result. Information reached Tambaram railway station and personnel on duty at the main control severed the power supply on either side between Vandalur and Perungalathur stations.
Engineers from Tambaram and gangmen on the sector between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, numbering more than 50, rushed to the spot and began to cut the fallen tree manually. A little past noon, trains were operated on the main line towards Tambaram.
At 1.30 p.m., traffic on both directions was restored. A couple of trains from the southern districts towards Chennai Egmore and Pallavan and Vaigai Expresses in addition to suburban electric trains on the Tambaram – Chengalpattu –Tirumalpur sector were delayed.
