Thiruvananthapuram: The passengers of Train No. 1264 Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai Mail had a narrow escape when its engine got decoupled from the bogies at the Kochuveli railway station on Friday. Sources said it happened due to the fault in the coupling of the engine with bogies. Fortunately, the train had not gained speed which averted a serious accident, sources said. It had started from the Thiruvananthapuram central station at 2.50 pm and the incident occurred soon after it crossed the Kochuveli station around 3 pm. It was packed with passengers, including tour-ism minister A.C. Moideen.
The train continued its journey after minor maintenance works were carried out, sources said. Thiruvananthapuram divisional railway manager Prakash Bhutani told Deccan Chronicle that the issue was minor. The Southern Railway said an investigation will be carried out by the safety department. Similar incidents have happened at the Kochuveli railway station and other parts of the state in the recent past. As many as 12 coaches of Thiruvananthapuram- Mangalore express derailed near Karukutty station, around 45 km from Kochi, on August 28, 2016. The Ernakulam-Kayamkulam passenger escaped a major accident near Alappuzha railway station when the upper part of the bogey got partially dislodged from the underframe as the train was about to halt at Alappuzha station on November 29, 2012.
