Passengers in the Ajmer – Ernakulam Marusagar Express waiting to alight at Byndoor (Mookambika Road) railway station were in for a surprise when the train instead of stopping went ahead as the train driver forgot to stop it there on March 2 evening.
The Marusagar Express (Train No: 12978) was scheduled to arrive at the Byndoor railway station at 4.26 p.m. on March 2. But it was running late by an hour and was expected to arrive at 5.26 p.m. But the train which arrived (at Byndoor) did not stop there, instead, it passed on leaving both the passengers inside the train and those waiting to board it surprised.
Sudha Krishnamurthy, Public Relations Officer, Konkan Railway, told The Hindu on March 3 that later when the Marusagar Express stopped at the next railway station, that is, Kundapur, the passengers waiting to alight at Byndoor, were asked to get down there through the public announcement system on the railway platform. The 16 passengers alighted, were then sent back to Byndoor from Kundapur in two vans, she said.
Detailed inquiry
Meanwhile, there were about 42 passengers waiting to catch the Marusagar Express to Ernakulam. The Karwar – Bengaluru Express (Train No: 16524) was coming behind the Marusagar Express and the gap between the two trains was about 30 minutes. The passengers of Marusagar Express at Byndoor railway station were told to board the Karwar – Bengaluru Express.
“The Marusagar Express waited for about an hour at the railway station in Udupi for the Karwar-Bengaluru Express to arrive. After the Karwar – Bengaluru Express arrived at Udupi railway station, the 42 passengers were shifted to their respective berths on Marusagar Express,” she said.
“This is the first time a driver has failed to stop at a scheduled station on the Konkan Railway. A detailed inquiry would be conducted in this matter and the Marusagar Express train driver will be questioned,” Ms. Krishnamurthy said.
