Alert keyman averts possible train mishap over Konkan Railway network in coastal Karnataka

Alert keyman averts train mishap by noticing rail weld failure on Konkan Railway, leading to quick restoration measures.

A possible train mishap was averted with an alert keyman (track maintainer) noticing a weld failure of rails on the Mumbai-Mangaluru Konkan Railway Corporation network between Innanje and Padubidri in Udupi district in the wee hours of Sunday, May 26.

Keyman Pradeep Shetty, who was on night patrol of the assigned stretch of the track, noticed the weld failure at around 2.25 a.m. and immediately informed the higher officials. Train No. 16345 Mumbai LTT-Thiruvananthapuram Central Netravathi Express was to leave Udupi at 3 a.m. towards Mangaluru Junction while Train No. 16595 KSR Bengaluru-Karwar Panchaganga Express was to pass through the stretch at around 4 a.m. during that time.

Officials immediately took up restoration measures of the defective rail at km 706/0-1 and the track was certified fit for operation by 5.58 a.m. with speed restriction of 20 kmph. KRCL Chairman and Managing Director Santos Kumar Jha announced an immediate cash award of ₹25,000 to Mr. Shetty which would be paid at the restored track site in the afternoon, said officials.

Vishal Nayak, a railfan from Udupi who was on board the Netravathi Express narrated his experience and said the train stopped just before Padubidri at around 3.55 a.m. and was hauled back to Innanje, a distance of about 7 km. He learnt that the Panchaganga Express bound to Karwar was detained at Nandikur Station, about 9 km South of Padubidri. While Netravathi Express was detained at Innanje, Mr. Nayak saw a Rail Maintenance Vehicle (RMV) moving towards Padubidri (for track restoration).

The train traffic was restored after the track was certified fit for operation, said KRCL officials.