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Three attempts to derail trains in Kerala

Trivandrum - The attempts on the track between Kottayam and Chganacherry railway stations kept the railway and police officials on their toes for several hours.

Three separate attempts to derail trains on the track between Kottayam and Chganacherry railway stations in Kerala kept the railway and police officials on their toes for several hours on Thursday and Friday morning.
The first attempt came to light when a motor bike was found parked in the middle of the track near Chingavanam before the arrival of the Malabar Express around 10.30pm. The train driver spotted the bike and averted a disaster by slowing down the train.
The train carried the bike along for several meters. It was pulled out of the track after the train was stopped. A railway officer, who went to supervise the work, saw his vehicle damaged when he returned. The tyres of the car were also found punctured.
The second attempt was to derail the Amrutha Express, heading towards Trivandrum, by placing iron rods, a box and old electronic equipment, including an old video camera just before the Channanikkad Bridge near Chingavanam. The train that reached the spot around 3.30am ran over these objects creating sparks on the track.
The third attempt came to the notice of the authorities half an hour later when the Vivek Express going to Dibrugarh in Assam encountered a huge stone on the track between Chingavanam and Kottayam stations. The train crushed the stone and moved on.
An attempt to damage the overhead railway electric lines near Chingavanam station also came to light later. The miscreants tried to disrupt the power supply by throwing bushes on the overhead lines.
Following these incidents, all trains plying between Changanacherry and Kottayam were detained in the nearby stations till the tracks were cleared and made secure.
The railway authorities sounded high alert after they suspected sabotage following preliminary investigation. - news@khaleejtimes.com