Road users struggled for about an hour as the second railway gate near Masilamanipuram on Siluvathur Road here remained closed on Thursday.
An IRCTC tourists’ special train was stopped on Dindigul-Karur track across the second railway gate as the railway work force was engaged in yard maintenance work at Anumantha Nagar railway gate near the station.
With no signal given for the train to enter Dindigul railway station, it stopped outside the station for more than 50 minutes.
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With no alternative route to cross the track, all vehicles, including three town buses, one private bus, several autos, cars and two-wheelers, were stranded on both sides of Siluvathur Road.
“If there is any problem at the third railway level crossing, vehicles can cross Dindigul-Chennai track through an under pass near the gate. An unmanned level crossing, half km away from the first railway level crossing, will help drivers cross Palani-Dindigul track without much trouble. There is no such facility for the second railway level crossing across Dindigul-Karur track,” said autoriskhaw drivers.
The work force had planned to complete the work before the departure of Tirunelveli-Erode passenger train from Dindigul railway station. But they did not notice the arrival of IRCTC special at that time.
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“If all coaches had crossed the level crossing, the gate could have been opened as it was being operated manually. Since the coaches were stopped on the level crossing nothing could be done,” a railway source said.
No intimation
Commencement of yard work without prior intimation led to such a chaotic situation, said local people.
Anumantha Nagar railway gate remains closed from April 7 for construction of an overbridge.