Chennai: Language barrier caused a station master Jayakumar based at Thirumangalam, to misread the message from a Punjabi station master, Shiv Singh Meena, posted at Kallikudi (Madurai district) and direct a train on the wrong track, on which another train was running in the opposite direction.
Fortunately, a major train mishap was averted by the officials after coming to know about the mix-up in the lines.
Realising the goof up, the officials alerted the train pilots over the wireless, who stopped their respective trains in between Thirumangalam and Kallikudi, barely a km from each other, on the same track. While a major disaster was thus averted, railway authorities placed under suspension Meena, Jayakumar and a superintendent, on Friday. The bizarre incident took place after signal failure at Thirumangalam railway station near Madurai on Thursday evening.
As a result, the Madurai to Sengottai passenger train reached Thirumangalam railway station, after a delay of 30 minutes. The train left for Sengottai.
Meanwhile, a train proceeding in the opposite direction, the Sengotta-Madurai passenger train reached Kallikudi railway station, and left for Madurai at the same time.
Jayakumar failed to understand the message from Shiv Singh Meena in sending the Madurai-Sengottai passenger train.
Jayakumar permitted the Madurai-Sengottai passenger train to proceed on the same track. Shiv Singh Meena, who hails from Punjab, reportedly passed the message to Jayakumar in Hindi.
Realizing the mistake, the officials alerted the pilots of the both the trains and immediately halted both the trains barely a km from each other, on the same track.
A major train mishap was thus averted on Thursday evening. The passengers condemned the railway employees for the goof up. Meanwhile, the railway authorities have placed Jayakumar, Shiv Singh Meena and Superintendent of Thirumangalam railway station, Muruganatham.
