Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Railways on Wednesday launched an investigation into the incident in which a Vande Bharat Express hit an auto-rickshaw that had fallen onto the tracks at Akathumuri station near Varkala, in Kerala, narrowly averting a major accident.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has registered a case in connection with the incident and taken the auto-rickshaw driver into custody.
Preliminary assessment by railway officials has pointed to a serious lapse in safety arrangements at the station, where a temporary road built for construction purposes leading to the platform had not been properly barricaded or closed.
This allowed unauthorised access to the platform area, ultimately resulting in the accident.
The incident occurred late on Tuesday night when the auto-rickshaw, driven by a man from Kallambalam, entered the station premises through the temporary access road.
The road had been constructed to transport materials for platform widening works at Akathumuri station.
The auto-rickshaw reportedly reached the platform and then toppled onto the tracks.
Moments later, the Vande Bharat Express, which was passing through the station, collided with the vehicle lying on the track.
Railway officials said the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
He has been identified as Sudhi, a resident of Kallambalam, and was taken into RPF custody for questioning.
According to officials, the driver claimed that he had lost his way and accidentally entered the construction access road.
Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported in the incident.
Railways said the accident could have had grave consequences, but the disaster was averted due to timely braking and the absence of passengers or railway staff on the track at the time.
Train traffic on the route was disrupted for around one and a half hours following the accident as safety checks and clearance operations were carried out.
Southern Railway officials rushed to the spot and conducted a detailed inspection.
Authorities confirmed that neither the track nor the Vande Bharat train suffered any damage.
The auto-rickshaw was later removed from the track, and normal train services were restored.
The Railways have said a detailed inquiry is underway to fix responsibility for the safety lapse, including the failure to restrict access to the temporary road during construction activities.
(IANS)
